0
The apical pulse is taken when the patient is lying or sitting. A stethoscope is used to listen to the heart and placed at the 5th intercostal space (between ribs on left side of body). The beats are counted for a full minute and recorded.
A radial pulse is taken by feeling (palpating) for the pulse on either wrist, just below the thumb (in the soft spot). The beats are counted for 30 seconds, then doubled. If the beats are irregular, they are counted for 60 seconds.
The pulse is recorded as beats per minute: BPM
An apical-radial pulse is when two nurses record each at the same time. The difference is called the "pulse deficit."
Still curious? Ask our experts.
Chat with our AI personalities
Ezra
Maxine
RafaHow to take an apical (a-pih-kull) pulse: The apical pulse is your heart rate when counted with a stethoscope (steth-uh-skop) placed over your heart. A watch with a second hand will be needed to take your apical pulse. The following steps may help you take your apical pulse. * You should sit up or lie down.
* Put the tips of the stethoscope into your ears.
* Place the diaphragm (disk part) of the stethoscope over your heart. Your heart is found in the middle of your chest and toward the left side.
* Count the beats for a full minute (60 seconds) when you hear your heartbeat. Notice if your heartbeat sounds strong, weak, or missing beats.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why do you take an apical pulse for people on digoxin?
You need to accurately check the heart rate. Digoxin can lower the heart rate to dangerous levels. You should not administer digoxin when pulse rate is already below 60.
How do you monitor a childs pulse?
It is ideal to use the apical pulse for monitoring a child's heart rate.
What conditions may cause the apical and radial pulse to be different from each other?
Please double check this but here is a shot Apical pulse will never be less than the radial pulse. A radial pulse rate less than the apical rate is an example of a pulse deficit, and can be the When_would_an_apical_pulse_be_less_then_radial_pulseof a heart murmur, but the opposite will never occur.
Apical pulse is the method of choice for determining the heart rate for which one what infants or children over three years or adolescents or adults?
infants and young children
What equipment is needed to take an apical pulse?
To FEEL for the apical pulse, the "equipment" required is either the fingers and or palm of the hand and a stopwatch or watch with a second hand to count the apical rate. The cardiac apical impulse or point of maximum impulse (PMI) is located along the mid-claviclar line approx. 7-9 cm (about 3") left of the sternum within the 5th intercostal rib cage space just under the left breast. As for LISTENING to the apical pulse, one needs to emply the use of a stethoscope in order to auscultate the heart beat. The chestpiece of the stethoscope should be applied to the bare skin directly upon the PMI where heart sounds are the loudest.
