Week 2: Vital Signs - Pulse

Question 1

How do you measure a pulse?

Answer 1

palpate artery

Question 2

What does the pulse measure? (4)

Answer 2

• rate
• rhythm
• force
• location

Question 3

How do you measure heart rate?

Answer 3

• auscultate sound of heart valves

Question 4

What does heart rate measure? (2)

Answer 4

• rate
• rhythm

Question 5

What do pulse and heart rate reflect? (3)

Answer 5

• systole
  contractility
• stroke volumeW

Question 6

What are techniques to find the pulse? (3)

Answer 6

• fingertips or landmarking
• bilateral comparison
• you can do bilateral comparison simultaneously except the carotids

Question 7

What is the normal range of bpm for adults?

Answer 7

60-100 bpm

Question 8

What is the range for bradycardia? tachycardia?

Answer 8

bradycardia - less than 60 bpm
Tachycardia - greater than 100 bpm

Question 9

What is the range of bpm for conditioned athletes?

Answer 9

• 50-100 bpm

Question 10

What is the normal rate for:
1) Newborn
2) Infant
3) 4 yrs
4) 10 years
5) 18 years

Answer 10

1) newborn - 70-190 bpm
2) Infant - 80 - 160 bpm
3) 4 years - 80 - 120 bpm
4) 10 years - 70 -110 bpm
5) 18 years - 50 - 95 bpm

Question 11

What do the numbers on the pulse strength scale mean?

Answer 11

4+ - Full, bounding
3+ - strong
2+ weak
1+ thready
0 absent

Question 12

What should you also look out for when finding pulse?

Answer 12

• perfusion
  ex. warmth/colour of skin

Question 13

How should you document finding pulse?

Answer 13

rate + location
ex/ P 84 bpm R radial
can also document regularity (rhythm) and strength (force)
ex. Radial pulse 3+ bilaterally

Question 14

What is a normal sinus rhythm? (2)

Answer 14

• Regular and 60-100 bpm
• consistent, steady pace
  X X X X X X (30sec P)

Question 15

What does a regularly irregular rhythm look like (60sec P/HR)

Answer 15

Xx Xx Xx

Question 16

What does an irregular rhythm look like (60 sec HR)

Answer 16

X xx Xx xXx x

Question 17

What is a pulse deficit? (2)

Answer 17

HR > Pulse rate
- not all contractions have enough volume/force to produce a palpable pulse

Question 18

When calculating a pulse deficit, why is HR more reliable than pulse rate?

Answer 18

• you can always hear the HR so it is more reliable for accuracy
• you can’t use stethoscope to measure pulse bc it can only pick up opening and closing of valves

Question 19

We can take the pulse ___ equal

Answer 19

bilaterally

Question 20

How long should you count a pulse for?

Answer 20

regular - 30 sec
Irregular - 60 sec

Question 21

What could be the cause of an absent pulse?

Answer 21

0
- dead
- blood clot

Question 22

What could be the cause of a weak pulse? (4)

Answer 22

• it’s consistently there but not strong
• Core perfusion
• dehydration
• reduced SV

Question 23

What could be the cause of a strong, bounding pulse? (4)

Answer 23

• +4
• exercise
• anxiety
• feae

Question 24

What could be the cause of a thready pulse? (3)

Answer 24

+1
- feel it but it is not consistent
- on its way to perfusion or circulation