NursingPlex
    Sign In
    HESI Exit LPN Proctored Exam 1

    The practical nurse (PN) observes a newly hired unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) who is counting a client's radial pulse as seen in the picture. Which action should the PN take?

    Explanation & Rationale

    - A radial pulse is the pulse felt at the wrist, where the radial artery runs along the thumb side of the forearm. It is one of the most common sites for measuring a person's heart rate. - To measure a radial pulse, the examiner should place two or three fingers over the radial artery, just below the wrist crease, and apply gentle pressure until a pulsation is felt. The examiner should not use the thumb, as it has its own pulse and may interfere with the accuracy of the measurement. The examiner should count the number of beats for 15, 30, or 60 seconds, depending on the regularity and rate of the pulse. - In the picture, the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is using the thumb to measure the radial pulse, which is incorrect. The practical nurse (PN) should demonstrate the correct pulse site to the UAP and explain why using the thumb is not appropriate. This will help to ensure that the UAP obtains an accurate and reliable pulse rate for the client. Therefore, option C is the correct answer, while options A, B, and D are incorrect. Option A is incorrect because instructing the UAP to report any abnormal findings does not address the error in technique. Option B is incorrect because reminding the UAP to check the pulse volume does not address the error in technique. Option D is incorrect because confirming the accuracy of the pulse rate obtained by the UAP does not address the error in the technique.

    🔒 Submit your answer to reveal