What is the measure of a patient’s breathing rate called?

The measure of a patient’s breathing rate is referred to as the respiratory rate. This is an important vital sign that reflects how many breaths a person takes in a minute. It is a key indicator of a person's respiratory health and can signify, among other things, whether a patient is experiencing distress or illness.

Monitoring the respiratory rate is essential in various clinical settings, as it helps healthcare providers assess the effectiveness of a patient’s breathing and can guide treatment decisions. For instance, an elevated respiratory rate may indicate conditions such as anxiety, fever, or lung disease, while a decreased rate could be a sign of respiratory depression or failure.

The other options relate to different physiological measures: heart rate measures how often the heart beats, blood pressure evaluates the force of blood against artery walls, and pulse oximetry assesses blood oxygen saturation. Each of these indicators serves a distinct purpose, but only the respiratory rate specifically pertains to the number of breaths taken, making it the appropriate answer in this context.