Medical Assistant Prep / Unit 12 MAS 289 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Taking a Radial Pulse
The idea
The radial pulse at the wrist is the most common place to measure a pulse, and it follows a simple technique.
In practice
Step one: clean your hands and explain what you are doing. Step two: place the pads of your first three fingers along the thumb side of the patient's wrist, near where the wrist bends. Step three: press gently until you feel the pulse. Pressing too hard can block it. Step four: count, starting with "one" on the first beat, for a full minute if the rhythm is irregular, and as the practice directs otherwise. Step five: note the rhythm and the force as you count, and compare both wrists if asked to check equality. Step six: record the rate along with your observations.
Where people slip
Radial pulses are hard to feel in newborns and children under five, so the brachial or apical pulse is used for them instead.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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