Respiratory assessment

Many nurses in both primary and secondary care are working as respiratory nurse specialists and nurse practitioners. These roles involve assessing and diagnosing many conditions, including common respiratory disorders. This chapter covers the undertaking of a respiratory assessment. It shows how making a diagnosis can be difficult because the principal symptoms of respiratory disease are common to many different conditions. The respiratory assessment also determines which investigations may be required to reach a diagnosis. Respiratory assessments involve skilled communication with patients and carers and other medical professionals, along with an understanding of informed consent and the ethical implications of gaining consent.