Question

If the physician checks the pulse on the right wrist and says "The pulses are fine", what would you document in the physical exam:

Answer 1

Document that the radial pulse on the right wrist is normal in rate and rhythm, indicating the pulses are fine.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the physician checks the pulse on the right wrist and states "The pulses are fine," you would document in the physical exam that the radial pulse on the right wrist was palpated and is normal. Pulse assessment is a clinical procedure performed to provide clues to a patient's state of health, including heart rate and the strength of the ventricular contraction and cardiac output. It is important to note both the rate and the strength of the pulse, as these can indicate various health conditions or the effectiveness of the heart's function.

The radial artery is commonly used for this assessment, but pulses can also be checked in other sites such as the carotid, temporal, facial, brachial, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis arteries. When documenting, it is essential to specify which artery was palpated. The radial pulse was assessed, found to be within normal limits in rate and rhythm, indicating no immediate concerns regarding the cardiovascular system.