Reading the pulse means feeling the pulsatile beat of the arteries

The blood that is pumped from heart travels through the arteries causing the artery to expand and contract.

The various sites of pulse measurement are as below

• Carotid pulse- at side of neck

• Radial pulse- at the inside of wrist

• Brachial pulse- Inside of elbow flexion

• Femoral pulse- In the groin. It’s done especially in newborn babies

• Dorsalis pedis pulse- at the dorsal surface of the feet

PROCEDURE

Equipment needed

• Watch with seconds needle

METHOD

• Explain the procedure to the parent and the child is older. Tell them it’s not going to hurt them.

• Make sure the child is calm before the procedure. If the child is unhappy to make sure to write a note that down next to the answer.

• Sit in front of the child. If the child is young, make them sit on their parent’s lap and comfort them.

• Now place your fingers on these sites and look into the watch and count the pulse for one minute fully.

• In babies of patients who are lying down, you could count the carotid and femoral.

• Record the value

Importance Of pulse recording

• It should generally relate to the heart rate

• Sometimes if there is any blockage within the artery, then the pulse may not be felt.

• Make sure the pulse rate and heart rate match