Engage Fundamentals RN Vital Signs Practice Test

The main concept is recognizing signs of increased work of breathing in children. When a child is in respiratory distress, the body tries harder to bring in air, so you’ll see specific cues. Tachypnea, or rapid breathing, is a classic early sign because the child is compensating to meet oxygen demands or remove carbon dioxide. The use of accessory muscles indicates extra effort, as the body recruits neck and chest muscles to help with inhalation. Nasal flaring shows the effort to widen the airway and improve airflow, especially in infants and young kids. Normal oxygen saturation with no tachypnea does not indicate distress. If oxygen saturation is normal and breathing rate is not elevated, the breathing is not showing signs of increased workload. So this statement is not a sign of respiratory distress, unlike the other cues that reflect the child’s increased effort to breathe.