What are the steps to measure respiratory frequency?

- Identifying the patient.
- Explaining the procedure to the patient and/or family.
- Placing the patient in a suitable position.
- Observing a complete respiratory cycle (inspiration and expiration).
- Determining the respiratory frequency by observing the number of complete ventilatory cycles that occur during 60 seconds.
- Observing the depth and regularity of the cycles, if respiratory noises are heard, and if the patient has to make an effort to breathe.
- Recording the procedure, the patient's response, respiratory frequency, characteristics, respiratory noises, respiratory effort, and altered respiratory pattern.