Assessing Pulse

Question 1

Before assessing the pulse what should you do?

Answer 1

Let child rest for few mins
Create calm environment and be reassuring and confident

Question 2

What is palpation?

Answer 2

The alternating expansion and recoil of an artery that occurs with each beat of the left ventricle creates a pressure wave

Question 3

During a holistic assessment what should you look out for?

Answer 3

Blue lips (cyanosis) can indicate poor tissue perfusion caused by respiratory condition
Pale coloured skin, is it cold
If nail beds are pale or have bluish colouration it could indicate poor circulation or tissue oxygenation

Question 4

How to take a pulse manually

Answer 4

Lightly compress artery and count number of beats per minute
Record the pulse rate in patients notes or chart (PEWS)
Then decontaminate your hands, explain findings to child and parent

Question 5

How to do a radial pulse and what age of children is this most useful on

Answer 5

Use first and second fingertips pressing firmly on the site until a pulse is felt

More useful in older children as it is easily accessible

Question 6

Brachial pulse

Answer 6

Used for assessing infants and young children

Question 7

Cartoid pulse

Answer 7

One of the last pulses to disappear in the event of cardiac arrest
In children over 1 palpate the pulse but children under 1 use the brachial pulse instead of

Question 8

Femoral pulse

Answer 8

Often used to assess cardiac output during cardiac arrest or to assess lower-limb perfusion with duct-dependent congenital heart disease

Question 9

Sinus rhythm

Answer 9

Pulse should be steady and regular

Question 10

Sinus arrhythmia

Answer 10

Slight elevation and decrease in pulse rate which is normal in younger people

Question 11

Tachycardia

Answer 11

Rapid heart rate

Question 12

Bradycardia

Answer 12

Slow heart rate.