ABSTRACT
Respiratory disorders are commonly experienced by patients. This can be due to primary causes (e.g. asthma, COPD, pneumonia) or secondary (e.g. heart failure). So, as a student nurse you will care for a patient with a respiratory disorder. During events of acute illness and/or physiological deterioration compensatory changes to the respiratory system occur early. Therefore the respiratory rate is one of the early warning signs. As a result, student nurses will also be involved in the care management of patients with respiratory disorders.
