How long should respirations be counted to determine the rate accurately?

• A. 30 seconds
• B. 1 minute
• C. 2 minutes
• D. 5 seconds

Answer: (B)

Accurate respiration rate requires observing for a full minute. Breathing can vary from moment to moment and there may be brief pauses between breaths, so counting only a portion of time can miss these variations and lead to an incorrect rate. By watching the chest rise and fall for 60 seconds, you capture the true breaths-per-minute value and any irregularities in breathing pattern. In practice, counting for shorter periods (like 30 seconds or a few seconds) can be less reliable, and counting for two minutes is longer than necessary for the CNA context. Start the timer and count each complete breath for a full 60 seconds to determine the rate reliably.