RN Exam Practice
Reduction of Risk PotentialQuestion 1165 of 2368

How should the nurse count the respiratory rate of a 3-month-old whose breathing rhythm is irregular?

  1. Count for 15 seconds and multiply by four while the infant is crying.
  2. Count for a full minute while the infant is calm.
  3. Count for 30 seconds and double the number once the infant stops crying.
  4. Count for 10 seconds and multiply by six while the infant is feeding.
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Correct answer: Count for a full minute while the infant is calm.

Irregular infant breathing requires a full minute of counting. The rate is taken when the infant is calm, not crying.

Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Childhood Respiratory Disorders: Life Span Considerations. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Reduction of Risk Potential"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026