Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Prometric Practice Exam

Why is it important for the nurse aide to avoid telling the resident that their breathing is being counted?

1. To ensure the resident feels relaxed and not self-conscious

2. To prevent the resident from altering their breathing pattern

3. To maintain the confidentiality of the resident's health

4. To avoid causing panic in the resident

The correct answer is: To prevent the resident from altering their breathing pattern

The importance of avoiding telling the resident that their breathing is being counted primarily rests on the fact that informing them can lead to alterations in their natural breathing pattern. When people become aware that their breaths are being monitored, they may subconsciously change how they breathe either by taking deeper breaths, holding their breath, or becoming anxious about the process. This alteration can compromise the accuracy of the assessment being conducted by the nurse aide. Maintaining an objective measure of a resident's respiratory rate is crucial for assessing their health status accurately. Any change from the resident's normal breathing pattern can skew the results and mislead healthcare providers regarding potential medical issues. Hence, keeping the observation discreet allows for a more accurate and truthful representation of the resident's respiratory condition.