Final answer:
The nurse will instruct the NAP to palpate the patient's inner wrist on the thumb side using their two middle fingers to measure the radial pulse correctly. The fingertips should be placed gently over the radial artery to count the beats and assess the quality of the pulse.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse instructing nursing assistive personnel (NAP) when measuring an adult patient's radial pulse will likely emphasize the importance of locating the pulse correctly and ensuring accurate documentation. The correct instruction among the options provided is:
- Palpate the patient's inner wrist on the thumb side with the fingertips of your two middle fingers.
It is important to place the fingertips gently over the radial artery which can be found on the patient's inner wrist along the thumb side. The NAP should use a light touch to avoid occluding the pulse and count the beats per minute, while also noting the rhythm and quality of the pulse. Documenting whether the pulse is bounding or has diminished is within the NAP's scope of practice, but gloves are not necessary unless there is a potential for coming in contact with bodily fluids or if the patient is on contact precautions.
Option A, regarding positioning the patient in the lateral (side-lying) position, is unnecessary for measuring the radial pulse. However, in some specific situations such as a neurological assessment or when other pulse sites are used, the position may need to be adjusted accordingly.