Author Question: The nurse on a medical-surgical unit palpates a patient's carotid pulse for 30 seconds and obtains a ... (Read 24 times)

meagbuch · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse on a medical-surgical unit palpates a patient's carotid pulse for 30 seconds and obtains a rate of 80 beats/min. The nurse knows in obtaining a patient's carotid pulse she must be careful that her technique does not cause a/an:

a. Increase in heart rate
b. Decrease in heart rate
c. Increase in blood pressure
d. Irregular heart rhythm

Question 2

Which instruction by a registered nurse should the student nurse clarify with her clinical instructor? When taking off the provider's orders, you should:

a. Write drug names in fullrather than using abbreviations
b. Use apothecary unitsinstead of metric units
c. Write at' or each'rather than use the 'symbol
d. Write mL' or milliliters'in place of the cc' abbreviation

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

Answer to Question 1

B
When assessing for a pulse using palpation of the carotid artery, it is important to palpate only one side of the neck at a time. Additionally, palpation should be light and the nurse must avoid massaging the area. Massaging the carotid can create a Valsalva response causing a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.

Answer to Question 2

B
The student nurse should question the instruction to use apothecary unitsinstead of metric units. Nurses are encouraged to use metric units instead of the rarely used apothecary system.