PulsePulse

• Define

– The pressure of the blood pushing against the walls of an artery as the heart beats and rests

– Felt more easily in arteries that lie close to the skin

Pulse SitesPulse Sites• Temporal – forehead• Carotid – neck• Brachial – inner, upper

arm• Radial – wrist• Femoral – groin• Popliteal – behind

knee• Dorsalis pedis – top of

foot

Pulse RatePulse Rate

• Define– Number of beats per

minute

• Variables– Age, sex, body size

Pulse RatesPulse Rates

• Adults 60-90bpm

• Children > 7 70-90bpm

• Children 1-7 80-110bpm

• Infants 100-160bpm

Pulse TermsPulse Terms

• Bradycardia

– Pulse rate under 60 beats per minute

• Tachycardia

– Pulse rate greater than 100 beats per minute

Characteristics of the PulseCharacteristics of the Pulse

• Rate – beats per minute

• Rhythm – regularity or spacing of beats– Regular or irregular– Arrhythmia – irregular heartbeat/pulse

• Volume – strength or intensity– Strong, weak, thready, bounding

Factors that Increase the PulseFactors that Increase the Pulse

– Exercise

– Stimulant drugs

– Excitement

– Fever

– Shock

– Nervous tension

Factor that Decrease the PulseFactor that Decrease the Pulse

– Sleep

– Depressant drugs

– Heart disease

– Coma

– Physical training

Apical PulseApical Pulse

• Heartbeat taken by listening with a stethoscope over the apex of the heart

• The heart sounds are lubb-dupp

• Each lubb-dupp is one beat

• Used for taking an infant’s pulse because it is so rapid

RespirationsRespirations

• Define

– Process of taking in oxygen

and expelling carbon dioxide

• One Respiration includes

– 1 inspiration, breathing in

– 1 expiration, breathing out

Respiration RatesRespiration Rates

• Adults– 14-18 breaths per minute

• Children– 16-25 breath per minute

• Infants– 30-50 breaths per minute

Respiration CharacteristicRespiration Characteristic

• Rate– Number of respirations per minute– One respiration is one inspiration and one

expiration

• Rhythm– Regular or irregular

• Character– Deep, shallow, stertorous, moist

Abnormal Respiration Abnormal Respiration TerminologyTerminology

• Dyspnea – difficulty breathing• Apnea – absence of respirations• Tachypnea – respiration > 25/min• Bradypnea – respirations <10/min• Orthopnea – severe dyspnea• Cheyne-Stokes – periods of dyspnea followed by

periods of apnea. Seen in dying patients• Rales – bubbling respiration caused by moisture in

the lungs

Procedure for Taking Procedure for Taking RespirationsRespirations

• Count respirations so patient is unaware

• Do not tell patient you are taking their respirations as it is a voluntary and involuntary process

• Take the patients pulse and afterwards leave hand in place and lift eyes to count the rise and fall of the patients chest