Description
Develop essential skills for enhancing respiratory health, ensuring accurate assessment and patient-focused treatment
Clinical Skills and the Respiratory System delivers a structured approach to understanding and mastering the clinical assessment and procedural skills that are essential for delivering safe, effective and compassionate care for patients with conditions affecting the respiratory system.
Part of Peate’s Clinical Skills, a 12-book series that combines knowledge of human anatomy and physiology with practical, confident clinical skills, this volume is organised into chapters covering how to engage with patients, assessing the respiratory system, health promotion, planning care for asthma, vital signs, peak expiratory flow rate, oxygen therapy, and pulse oximetry.
Clinical Skills and the Respiratory System equips readers with:
- Clear explanations of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology relevant to the respiratory system
- Step-by-step guidance on assessment, examination, and procedural techniques, emphasising best practice and patient safety
- Insights on interpreting findings, recognising abnormalities, and applying knowledge to guide care decisions
- Guidance on teamwork, infection prevention and control, documentation, and patient-centred care throughout clinical practice
- Strategies to explain diagnoses, treatment plans, and care procedures to patients and families, while offering emotional support
Clinical Skills and the Respiratory System is an essential resource for all healthcare and social care students—including those returning to practice and newly qualified practitioners—who manage patients with respiratory conditions and seek practical ways to deliver a higher standard of care.
Table of Contents
Preface viii
Acknowledgements x
1 The Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiratory System 1
Introduction 1
The Respiratory System 2
Pulmonary Ventilation 6
Factors Influencing Pulmonary Ventilation 10
Lung Volumes 12
Regulation of Breathing 14
Pulmonary Ventilation and Gas Exchange 17
Transport of Gases 19
Blood Supply to the Lungs 20
Conclusion 21
Glossary of Terms 22
Multiple Choice Questions 23
2 Engaging with Patients and Assessing the Respiratory System 25
Introduction 25
Understanding the Patient's Perspective 26
Cultural Sensitivity in Relation to the Respiratory System 28
Non-verbal Communication and Respiratory Disease 29
Health Literacy 32
Emotional Responses 32
End-of-life and Palliative Care in Respiratory Disease 35
Assessing the Respiratory System 35
History Taking: A Comprehensive Approach to Respiratory Assessment 38
Enhancing Communication During History Taking 39
Respiratory Examination 40
Preparation to Undertake the Assessment 46
Special Tests 46
Whispered Pectoriloquy 47
Conclusion 48
Glossary of Terms 48
Multiple Choice Questions 49
3 Health Promotion 52
Introduction 52
Understanding Health Promotion in Relation to Respiratory Disease 53
Key Components of Health Promotion 53
Preventing Respiratory Disease Through Education and Awareness 54
Addressing Social Determinants of Health 54
Community and Policy-level Interventions 55
Empowerment and Self-management 56
Risk Factors Associated with Respiratory Disease 56
Health Promotion Strategies Associated with Respiratory Conditions 59
Broader Influences on Respiratory Health 62
The Role of the Healthcare Practitioner 62
Smoking Cessation Activities: A Public Health Priority 65
Community-based Approach to Health Promotion and Respiratory Conditions 67
Conclusion 68
Glossary of Terms 68
Multiple Choice Questions 70
4 Planning Care: Asthma 73
Introduction 73
Patient-centred Care 73
Ongoing Management of Asthma as a Chronic Condition 75
Pathophysiology of Asthma 76
Asthma Severity 79
Signs and Symptoms 79
Risk Factors 82
Assessment 84
Taking a Comprehensive History 84
Physical Examination 87
Objective Measurements 91
Asthma Control Tools 91
Holistic and Psychosocial Assessment 92
Planning Care 92
Key Components of Patient-centred Care 92
Cultural, Social and Environmental Considerations 93
Continuity of Care and Multidisciplinary Collaboration 94
Evaluation of Care 94
Conclusion 95
Glossary of Terms 96
Multiple Choice Questions 97
5 Vital Signs 100
Introduction 100
Informed Consent 105
Obtaining Informed Consent 105
Types of Consent 106
Procedures 108
Temperature, Pulse and Blood Pressure 109
Pulse 111
Measuring Respiratory Rate, Depth and Rhythm 115
Respiratory Rate, Depth and Rhythm 117
Evaluation 118
Conclusion 118
Glossary of Terms 119
Multiple Choice Questions 120
6 Peak Expiratory Flow Rate 123
Introduction 123
What It Is – Definition 125
Gaining Consent and Providing an Explanation 126
The Procedure 128
Interpretation of Results 128
The Traffic Light System 136
Documentation 137
Post-care 138
Raising Concerns 138
Conclusion 140
Glossary of Terms 140
Multiple Choice Questions 142
7 Oxygen Therapy 144
Introduction 144
The Physiological Basis of Oxygen
Therapy: An Overview 144
What It Is – Definition 148
How Oxygen Therapy Works 150
Types of Oxygen Delivery Systems 151
Consent and Explanation 156
Preparation 157
Safety Considerations 161
Interpretation of Results 162
Documentation 163
Post-care 165
Raising Concerns 166
Conclusion 167
Glossary of Terms 167
Multiple Choice Questions 168
8 Pulse Oximetry 171
Introduction 171
Oxygen Saturation 171
What It Is – Definition 172
Limitations of Pulse Oximetry and the Need for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment 175
Key Limitations of Pulse Oximetry 176
The Importance of Clinical Context 176
Consent and Explanation 177
Procedure 179
Equipment Check and Calibration 179
Preparation 180
Selection of Probe and Monitoring Site 180
Environmental and Clinical Factors 180
Technical Considerations 181
Monitoring Duration 181
Safety and Comfort 181
Application of the Probe 181
Clinical Monitoring and Interpretation 181
Documentation 182
Post-procedure Care 182
Interpretation of Results 182
Documentation 185
Post-care 186
Raising Concerns 187
Conclusion 188
Glossary of Terms 188
Multiple Choice Questions 189
References 190
MCQ Answers 192
Index 193
