Week 2: Vital Signs - Pulse Flashcards
How do you measure a pulse?
palpate artery
What does the pulse measure? (4)
- rate
- rhythm
- force
- location
How do you measure heart rate?
- auscultate sound of heart valves
What does heart rate measure? (2)
- rate
- rhythm
What do pulse and heart rate reflect? (3)
- systole
contractility - stroke volumeW
What are techniques to find the pulse? (3)
- fingertips or landmarking
- bilateral comparison
- you can do bilateral comparison simultaneously except the carotids
What is the normal range of bpm for adults?
60-100 bpm
What is the range for bradycardia? tachycardia?
bradycardia - less than 60 bpm
Tachycardia - greater than 100 bpm
What is the range of bpm for conditioned athletes?
- 50-100 bpm
What is the normal rate for:
1) Newborn
2) Infant
3) 4 yrs
4) 10 years
5) 18 years
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
What do the numbers on the pulse strength scale mean?
4+ - Full, bounding
3+ - strong
2+ weak
1+ thready
0 absent
What should you also look out for when finding pulse?
- perfusion
ex. warmth/colour of skin
How should you document finding pulse?
rate + location
ex/ P 84 bpm R radial
can also document regularity (rhythm) and strength (force)
ex. Radial pulse 3+ bilaterally
What is a normal sinus rhythm? (2)
- Regular and 60-100 bpm
- consistent, steady pace
X X X X X X (30sec P)
What does a regularly irregular rhythm look like (60sec P/HR)
Xx Xx Xx
What does an irregular rhythm look like (60 sec HR)
X xx Xx xXx x
What is a pulse deficit? (2)
HR > Pulse rate
- not all contractions have enough volume/force to produce a palpable pulse
When calculating a pulse deficit, why is HR more reliable than pulse rate?
- 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
We can take the pulse ___ equal
bilaterally
How long should you count a pulse for?
regular - 30 sec
Irregular - 60 sec
What could be the cause of an absent pulse?
0
- dead
- blood clot
What could be the cause of a weak pulse? (4)
- it’s consistently there but not strong
- Core perfusion
- dehydration
- reduced SV
What could be the cause of a strong, bounding pulse? (4)
- +4
- exercise
- anxiety
- feae
What could be the cause of a thready pulse? (3)
+1
- feel it but it is not consistent
- on its way to perfusion or circulation
