CNA Skill Series: Counting and Recording Radial Pulse
The radial pulse is the pulse felt on the wrist, on the side of the forearm nearest the thumb. The radial artery runs under the skin, and its pulsing can be felt below the surface. The radial pulse is often used to check a person’s heart rate. However, it can also be used to assess someone’s general health. In particular, the radial pulse can give clues about a person’s blood pressure and circulatory status.
The normal radial pulse rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. A pulse that is faster than this (tachycardia) may be a sign of illness, while a pulse that is slower than this (bradycardia) may also indicate a problem.
As a CNA, you may be asked to take a person’s radial pulse. This is a relatively simple skill, but it is important to do it correctly. This article will explain how to take a radial pulse and record the findings.
How to Take a Radial Pulse
There are number of steps that a CNA should follow when taking a radial pulse which are as follows:
Perform the Initial Tasks: Before taking radial pulse, the CNAs need to do some initial groundwork which includes greeting the patient, explaining the procedure, maintaining privacy, and washing hands.
Locate the artery: The radial artery can be found on the wrist, on the thumb side of the forearm. It is located just below the surface of the skin.
Place your fingers: Place your index and middle fingers on the radial artery. You should not use your thumb, as this will make it more difficult to feel the pulse.
Feel the pulse: Gently press your fingers on the radial artery until you feel a pulsing. You may have to move your fingers around until you discover the pulse.
Count the heart rate: Once you have found the pulse, count the number of beats in one minute. You can use a stopwatch or count the beats for 30 seconds and then multiply by two. If the patient’s heart rate is not regular, you may need to count for a minute.
Record the findings: Once you have taken the radial pulse, it is crucial to record the findings. This includes the heart rate and any other observations about the pulse (e.g., regularity, strength, etc.).
How to Record Radial Pulse Findings
When recording radial pulse findings, CNAs should include the following information:
Patient’s name
Date and time
Radial pulse rate (beats per minute)
Any other observations about the pulse
Here is an example of how this information might be recorded:
John Smith
5/5/2020
3:00 pm
Radial pulse: 66 beats per minute
Regular, strong pulse
Expert Advice
When taking the radial pulse, it is essential to use gentle pressure. If you press too hard, you may not be able to feel the pulse.
If you have difficulty finding the radial pulse, try moving your fingers around a bit. You may also want to ask the patient to take a deep breath and hold it while taking the pulse. This can help raise the wrist and make it easier to find the pulse.
If the radial pulse is not regular, you may need to count for longer. You may also want to take the pulse on the other wrist and compare the two.
Taking radial pulse is a relatively simple skill, but it is important to do it correctly. By following the steps outlined above, you can be sure that you are taking and recording radial pulse accurately. This information will be valuable to the patient’s health care team in assessing the patient’s condition.
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