Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Pulse 1
Pulse 1
• Point of maximal
impulse is located
midline fifth
intercostal space
midclavicular line
COUNTING THE APICAL PULSE
• Use on infants, patients with heart failure, abnormally
fast heartbeat, some meds require the apical pulse to
be checked before administering
• When pulse is irregular it may be necessary to
determine the pulse-deficit:
This requires two nurses
One to count the radial pulse one to count the apical pulse (pulse at apex of
heart)
This is done at the same time
Subtract the radial pulse from the apical (example: radial = 96, apical =100,
pulse deficit = 4)
If radial pulse is higher than the apical pulse, do the assessment again, it is not
possible