Christopher Nicholson

Book review: Respiratory Care

How to check the arterial pulse

Rationale and key points This article aims to help healthcare professionals to check the arterial pulse. It focuses on the radial pulse, and also briefly considers the brachial and carotid pulses. The arterial pulse provides information about the patient’s condition and is therefore a vital sign. Checking the pulse is an essential clinical skill for healthcare professionals. ▶ Palpating the pulse tells us the patient’s heart rate. ▶ It also provides information on the regularity, volume and character of the pulse. Reflective activity Clinical skills articles can help update your practice and ensure it remains evidence based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. Your skill in manual pulse checking. Identify where you may need further supervised practice. For example, are you confident in finding radial, brachial and carotid sites? 2. Your knowledge of the normal characteristics of the pulse. Identify where you may need to extend your knowledge. For example, do you understand the normal range of rate, regularity, character and volume of the pulse? 3. Your knowledge of the abnormal characteristics of the pulse. Identify where you may need to extend your knowledge. For example, do you understand how different cardiac and non-cardiac diseases may affect the pulse? Subscribers can upload their reflective accounts at: rcni.com/portfolio .

Advanced cardiac examination: the arterial pulse

The pulse is a significant indicator of health and can provide valuable information to help make an accurate diagnosis. All nurses should be competent in taking and interpreting the pulse, and developing their expertise in this vital sign. Arterial pulses can be examined at various sites, and this article focuses on techniques for palpating radial, brachial and carotid pulses.