Mastering the Pulse Check

Where is the radial artery primarily located?

• On the side of your neck

• Inside your wrist, below the thumb

• On the top of your foot

• Behind your knee

Why is the radial artery commonly used to take a pulse?

• It is the largest artery in the body

• It is close to the surface of the skin and easy to feel

• It provides the most accurate heart rate

• It is the only artery that can be used to measure pulse

What is the first step in taking your pulse at the radial artery?

• Apply pressure with your index and middle fingers

• Start the stopwatch

• Count the number of beats you feel

• Warm up your hands

How should your fingers be positioned when taking a pulse on the radial artery?

• Use your thumb to feel the pulse

• Place your index and middle fingers side by side on your wrist

• Cross your index and middle fingers

• Use the back of your hand

What should you do if you cannot find the pulse in the radial artery?

• Press harder until you feel the pulse

• Move your fingers around the wrist area until you find the pulse

• Use your thumb to locate the pulse

• Give up and try another day

When counting the beats for 15 seconds, what is the next step to determine the beats per minute (BPM)?

• Divide the number of beats by 15

• Multiply the number of beats by 2

• Multiply the number of beats by 4

• Add 60 to the number of beats

What is the reason for counting the pulse for only 15 seconds instead of a full minute?

• It saves time and is more efficient

• It is easier to multiply the number of beats by 4

• It reduces the chance of losing count over a longer period

• All of the above

How much pressure should be applied to the radial artery to feel the pulse?

• Very light pressure

• Moderate pressure

• Heavy pressure

• No pressure at all

What is a normal resting pulse rate range for a healthy individual?

• 30-60 beats per minute

• 60-100 beats per minute

• 100-140 beats per minute

• 140-180 beats per minute

If you count 18 beats in 15 seconds, what would be the estimated beats per minute (BPM)?

• 54 BPM

• 72 BPM

• 90 BPM

• 108 BPM