Measuring the Radial Pulse

Written by Amanda R. McDaniel, MS, BSN, RN
Amanda is a BSN/RN with a MS in Physiology and a BA in English. She worked as a medical writer in the pharmaceutical industry for 11 years before pursuing a career in nursing. She now works as a nurse on a NeuroTelemetry unit and continues to write and edit on a freelance basis. Amanda’s LinkedIn

The radial artery, located in the wrist, is easy to feel and an efficient location to measure heart rate. Changes to the rhythm or strength of the radial pulse can indicate heart disease, damage to the arm, or body fluid status. It is important to remember to check the radial pulse on both sides as differences between left and right can indicate injury or disease processes.

How to Measure the Radial Pulse

  1. Perform hand hygiene and introduce yourself to the patient. Close the curtain or door to protect patient privacy.
  2. Ensure that the patient is prepared for the assessment:
    • Wait five to ten minutes after patient activity.
    • Wait 15 minutes after the patient has smoked or consumed caffeine.
    • The patient should be calm.
  3. Position the patient for accurate measurement of the radial pulse.
    • The patient should be sitting or lying supine.
    • If lying, the patient’s arms should be relaxed along the side of their body or across their lower chest or abdomen.
    • If sitting, the patient’s elbow should be bent at 90 degrees and the lower arm should be supported by the nurse or the arm of a chair.
    • The wrist should be straight with the palm of the hand facing down.
  4. Gently place the first two fingers of your hand over the groove on the thumb side of the patient’s inner wrist. Gently bend or straighten the patient’s wrist until you feel the pulse. You may need to adjust the pressure of your fingers, as it is easy to press too hard and close off the artery.
  5. Observe the feel of the pulse. Is it barely there? Is it practically leaping out of the patient’s arm? Are there stutters to it?
  6. Look at a clock with a second hand or a digital clock with seconds displayed. Note the second and begin counting the pulse for one full minute.
  7. Measure the radial pulse on the other wrist. Pay attention to differences between the two sides.
    • Measurement of both radial pulses may not be required by institutional or unit policy, but is good practice for new patients or if abnormalities are detected on the first side measured.
  8. Assist the patient back to a more comfortable position.
  9. Perform hand hygiene.
  10. Document the pulse rate and pattern in the patient’s record and inform the nurse of any rate or rhythm abnormality or difference between the two arms or if there is a significant change from the previous measurement per institutional or unit protocol.

Amanda R. McDaniel, MS, BSN, RN

References

Fetzer, S. J. (2014). Vital signs and physical assessment. In A. G. Perry, P. A. Potter, and W. R. Ostendorf (Eds), Clinical nursing skills & techniques (8th ed., pp. 77-80). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.

More Resources

Nail Care (Fingers and Toes) for CNAs

Nail care of both the feet and the hands should be performed as part of the patient’s daily hygiene routine. The status of the patient’s nails can reflect their overall health. Nail issues can also lead to infection that can spread systemically (ex, ingrown nails or fungus). You should never clip a patient’s nails with nail clippers, and always review your institution’s policy about what nail care is allowed.

Fowler’s Position

Fowler’s position is used when a patient is eating, is having difficulty breathing, or is ordered by a doctor. This position is easily recognized because the patient will be sitting “straight up.” Semi-Fowler’s is sitting “half-way up,” and is used when patients cannot be laid flat, but wish to be in a more relaxed position than Fowler’s.

Oral Temperature Measurement with an Electronic Monitor

Body temperature is one of the vital signs frequently measured in healthcare settings. Changes in a body temperature can indicate improvement or worsening of a patient’s condition, so accurate measurement is important.

Axillary Temperature with Electronic Thermometer

Compared to other temperature measurement methods, the axillary measurement is considered the least reliable. An axillary temperature measurement typically reads 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit lower than an oral temperature reading [1]. For this reason, it is recommended to use this method only when other methods are contraindicated or when taking an axillary temperature is the safest method for the patient.

Moving the Resident to the Side of the Bed

Residents are usually kept in the center of the bed for safety reasons. However, moving a resident to the side of the bed is an important step to take before turning a resident onto his or her side. Performing this action allows the resident to end up side lying in the center of the bed and not smashed up against the side rail.

Tympanic Membrane Temperature with Electronic Thermometer

A tympanic membrane thermometer uses an infrared sensor to measure the temperature of the tympanic membrane (ear drum). This type of thermometer is considered an accurate and reliable predictor of a patient’s core temperature because the tympanic membrane’s blood supply is sourced from the carotid artery, which is the same artery that carries blood to the hypothalamus in the brain.