The pulse rate is a peripheral measure of the heart rate. It can be measured using manual techniques or automatic electronic devices. The pulse rate is a simple measurement that clinicians can use to assess patients\u2019 physiological status. Serial measurements are useful in monitoring patients, and identifying changes in a patient\u2019s condition. Examples of electronic devices which measure and display pulse rate include; pulse oximeters and electronic blood pressure monitors. It is important to note that while these devices will show the pulse rate, they will not give any information regarding the rhythm or character of the pulse for this, the pulse measurement should be taken manually.<\/p>\n
Once you have watched this video, why not attempt the multiple choice quiz to test your knowledge?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The pulse rate is a peripheral measure of the heart rate. It can be measured using manual techniques or automatic electronic devices. The pulse rate is a simple measurement that clinicians can use to assess patients\u2019 physiological status. Serial measurements are useful in monitoring patients, and identifying changes in a patient\u2019s condition. Examples of electronic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tomorrows-clinicians","category-uncategorized","entry"],"youtubeVideo":"463780832\/6dba9ee8f0","question1":"When taking a blood pressure reading, the patient should be:","answers1":"At a strict 45 degree angle.\r\n| Sat up straight.\r\n| Lying flat.\r\n| Lying or sitting comfortably.","correctAnswer1":"3","correctAnswerText1":"","question2":"The limb that a blood pressure is being taken from should be:","answers2":"Relaxed and elevated above that of the heart.\r\n| Relaxed and at the same level as the heart.\r\n| Relaxed and lower than the level of the heart.\r\n| Relaxed and in the lowest position possible.","correctAnswer2":"1","correctAnswerText2":"","question3":"Before taking a blood pressure reading, the patient should refrain from strenuous exercise for how long?","answers3":"Up to 10 minutes.\r\n| Up to 15 minutes.\r\n| Up to 20 minutes.\r\n| Up to 30 minutes.","correctAnswerText3":"","correctAnswer3":"2","question4":"Which of the following conditions is a contraindication to having a blood pressure reading checked in the affected limb:","answers4":"Day 1 surgical repair of a Colles\u2019 fracture.\r\n| Arterovenous fistula.\r\n| Lymphoedema.\r\n| All of the above.","correctAnswer4":"3","correctAnswerText4":"Answer a. comprises both trauma and recent surgery. Blood pressure readings should also be avoided on the side of previous mastectomy surgery.","question5":"The first anatomical landmark located in order to correctly site a blood pressure cuff is:","answers5":"The antecubital fossa.\r\n| The biceps brachii tendon.\r\n| The radial artery.\r\n| The brachial artery.","correctAnswer5":"3","correctAnswerText5":"","question6":"The brachial artery:","answers6":"Lies deep to the biceps brachii tendon in the antecubital fossa.\r\n| Lies medial to the biceps brachii tendon in the antecubital fossa.\r\n| Lies lateral to the biceps brachii tendon in the antecubital fossa.\r\n| Lies inferiorly to the biceps brachii tendon in the antecubital fossa.","correctAnswer6":"1","correctAnswerText6":"","question7":"When siting a blood pressure cuff, the lower end of the cuff should be:","answers7":"At the level of the palpated brachial pulse. \r\n| 1-2cm above the palpated brachial pulse.\r\n| 2-3cm above the palpated brachial pulse.\r\n| 3-4cm above the palpated brachial pulse.","correctAnswer7":"2","correctAnswerText7":"","question8":"A correctly sized blood pressure cuff has a width that covers what percentage of the arm?","answers8":"100%\r\n| 80%\r\n| 60%\r\n| 40%","correctAnswer8":"3","correctAnswerText8":"The bladder of the cuff should encircle 80% of the arm.","question9":"The quoted value for hypertension is:","answers9":"Results that are or consistently above 140\/90mmHg.\r\n| Results that are or consistently above 160\/100mmHg.\r\n| Results that are or consistently above 120\/80mmHg.\r\n| Results that are or consistently above 200\/130mmHg.","correctAnswer9":"0","correctAnswerText9":"The figure of 160\/100mmHg is often used to describe stage 2 hypertension.\r\nThe figure of 120\/80mmHg represents a normal blood pressure reading.\r\nThe figure of 200\/130mmHg is one of several values used as to define malignant hypertension.","question10":"The chemical symbol Hg means:","answers10":"Potassium.\r\n| Mercury.\r\n| Sodium.\r\n| Magnesium.","correctAnswer10":"1","correctAnswerText10":"Potassium is K.\r\nSodium is Na.\r\nMagnesium is Mg.","question11":"Which of the following can lower blood pressure readings?","answers11":"Dehydration.\r\n| Pain.\r\n| Pyrexia.\r\n| Cocaine.","correctAnswer11":"0","correctAnswerText11":"Pain, pyrexia and cocaine all elevate blood pressure readings.","question12":"Which of the following is not a cause of secondary hypertension?","answers12":"Glomerulonephritis.\r\n| Phaeochromocytoma.\r\n| The combined oral contraceptive pill.\r\n| Addison\u2019s disease.","correctAnswer12":"3","correctAnswerText12":"Addison\u2019s can cause postural hypotension. \r\nSecondary hypertension represents 5% of total cases. 95% of cases are essential hypertension.","question13":"","answers13":"","correctAnswer13":"","correctAnswerText13":"","question14":"","answers14":"","correctAnswer14":"","correctAnswerText14":"","question15":"","answers15":"","correctAnswer15":"","correctAnswerText15":"","icon":"blood-icon","parentId":"","recapId":"397","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":514,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31\/revisions\/514"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}