A patient has a respiratory rate of 36 breaths per minute. How would the nurse describe this respiratory pattern?

A. Primary hypertension, also known as essential hypertension, is characterized by high blood pressure that does not have a known secondary cause. It accounts for the majority of hypertension cases and is thought to result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
B. While treatment is important for all forms of hypertension to prevent complications, this statement is somewhat misleading. The term "essential" in primary hypertension refers to the lack of a specific identifiable cause, not that it is necessarily more critical to treat than other forms of hypertension.
C. This definition describes secondary hypertension, not primary hypertension. Secondary hypertension results from an identifiable underlying condition, such as kidney disease or hormonal disorders.
D. Primary hypertension can vary in severity, but it is not exclusively severe or life-threatening. While uncontrolled hypertension can lead to serious complications, primary hypertension itself does not automatically imply a critical state.

A. Apnea refers to a temporary cessation of breathing. If a patient is experiencing apnea, there would be a complete stop in respiratory activity, which does not apply to a respiratory rate of 36 breaths per minute.
B. Tachypnea is defined as an increased respiratory rate, typically greater than 20 breaths per minute in adults. A respiratory rate of 36 breaths per minute falls well within this range, indicating that the patient is experiencing tachypnea.
C. Bradypnea refers to a decreased respiratory rate, usually defined as fewer than 12 breaths per minute. Since the patient’s rate is 36 breaths per minute, this option does not apply.
D. Orthopnea refers to difficulty breathing when lying flat and is not specifically related to the respiratory rate itself. It usually describes a positional dyspnea rather than a numerical measurement of breathing.