Author Question: When assessing a client's peripheral pulse, the health care provider is also assessing which of the ... (Read 57 times)

cmoore54 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

When assessing a client's peripheral pulse, the health care provider is also assessing which of the following?

1. Depth
2. Rhythm
3. Sound
4. Stress

Question 2

The nurse is going to assess the apical-radial pulse of a client with a cardiovascular disorder. Which rationale did the RN use to make this decision?

1. A forceful radial pulse is much too difficult to count correctly.
2. Both arteriole and venous sounds were heard simultaneously.
3. The pulse was bounding and easily obliterated.
4. The thrust of blood from the heart is too feeble for the wave to be felt at the peripheral pulse site.

cloudre37 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Depth is a term used when assessing edema.
Rationale 2: When assessing peripheral pulses, one of the characteristics being assessed is rhythm, along with rate, volume, and equality.
Rationale 3: Heart sounds are assessed with the apical pulse.
Rationale 4: Stress will affect the rate of both pulse and respiration, but it is not a characteristic of pulse assessment.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: A forceful radial pulse would be ideal for assessing a client's peripheral pulse.
Rationale 2: Arteriole and venous sounds would be detected when using the Doppler, but there is no indication for Doppler use given this situation.
Rationale 3: A bounding pulse is not easily obliterated.
Rationale 4: Knowing there is a history of a cardiovascular disorder would alert the RN to the importance of the utmost accuracy for the client's pulse assessment. The apical-radial pulse is used to assess this type of client due to the feebleness of the wave of blood flow felt at the peripheral sites.