Understanding Pulse Points

Описание: 🩸 Why Pulse Points Matter (Circulation!)
Pulse points help healthcare providers check circulation, which means how well blood is moving through the body. If a pulse is weak, hard to find, uneven, or missing, it can be a warning sign that blood flow is not normal. Knowing pulse points can help you spot problems early and keep patients safe. ✅

9 Common Pulse Points (Head ➡️ Toes)
1️⃣ Temporal – side of the head
2️⃣ Carotid – side of the neck
3️⃣ Apical – left chest, over the heart
4️⃣ Brachial – inside of the arm (near elbow)
5️⃣ Radial – wrist (thumb side)
6️⃣ Femoral – groin area
7️⃣ Popliteal – behind the knee
8️⃣ Posterior Tibial – inside ankle
9️⃣ Dorsalis Pedis – top of the foot

⏱️ Normal Adult Pulse Rate
✅ 60–100 beats per minute (bpm) at rest

🩺 Why Pulses Are Checked
• Check heart rate ❤️
• See if blood flow is strong 🩸
• Compare left vs right sides ⚖️
• Check circulation to arms and legs 🚶🏽‍♀️
• Watch for changes after illness, injury, or surgery 🚨

👕 CNA vs. Nurse Responsibilities (Updated)

✅ CNA Duties
• Radial pulse during routine vital signs
• Brachial pulse when taking blood pressure (helps you line up the cuff and find the artery)
• Carotid pulse during emergencies if trained and following facility policy (example: you can’t find a radial pulse)
• Report abnormal findings to the nurse

🩺 Nurse Duties
• Apical pulse (heart conditions, certain meds, irregular pulse)
• Femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, dorsalis pedis (circulation checks, diabetes, vascular problems)
• Full assessment and next steps

👉 CNAs check, document, and report
👉 Nurses assess, plan care, and treat

✋ Pulse-Taking Tips
❌ Do NOT use your thumb
✅ Use your index and middle fingers
⏱️ Count 60 seconds if irregular - and for CNA Clinical Skills Tests

🌐 Learn more at: https://FLtraining.com

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