Pulse Rate

• If patient is supine


  Place the forearm straight alongside or across lower chest or upper abdomen (see illustration A)
• If sitting


  Bend patient's elbow (90 degrees) and support lower arm on chair or on your arm
• Place tips of first two or middle three fingers of hand


  Over groove along radial or thumb side of patient's inner wrist (see illustration B)
• Slightly extend or flex wrist with palm down


  Until you note strongest pulse
• Lightly compress pulse against radius


  Losing pulse initially, relax pressure so that pulse becomes easily palpable
• Pulse strength


  Bounding (4+); full, strong (3+); expected (2+) barely palpable diminished (1+); or absent, not palpable (0)
• After palpating a regular pulse


  Look at watch second hand and begin to count rate
• Count the first beat after the second hand hits the number on the dial


  Count as one, then two, and so on
• If pulse is regular


  Count rate for 30 seconds and multiply total by 2