What it means
Each beat of the heart pushes a wave of blood through the arteries that can be felt where an artery lies near the skin. Common sites are the radial (wrist), carotid (neck), brachial (inner elbow), femoral (groin), popliteal (behind the knee), dorsalis pedis (top of the foot) and posterior tibial (inner ankle). The apical pulse is heard with a stethoscope over the heart. Nurses note the rate, rhythm and strength.
For the nurse
Count for 30 seconds and double it if the rhythm is regular; count a full minute if it is irregular or before giving drugs such as digoxin (apical). Rate strength on a scale such as 0 (absent) to 3+ or 4+ (bounding) per agency policy. Compare pulses on both sides, and report a missing or weak pulse in a limb.
In a chart
"Radial pulse 88, regular, 2+ bilaterally; pedal pulses present by Doppler."
At a glance
| Normal range | Adult at rest 60–100 beats per minute |
|---|---|
| Spanish | pulso |
| Also written | pulses |
Related terms
tachycardia
A heart rate faster than normal; in an adult, more than 100 beats per minute.
bradycardia
A heart rate slower than normal; in an adult, fewer than 60 beats per minute.
heart rate
How many times the heart beats per minute.
vital signs
The basic body measurements: temperature, pulse, breathing rate and blood pressure, often with oxygen saturation and pain.
circulation
The movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels around the body.