Question

To assess an apical pulse rate in an infant, how should the nurse proceed?

Answer 1

To assess an apical pulse rate in an infant, the nurse should use a stethoscope to listen to the heart sounds and count the beats for one minute.

Step-by-step explanation:

To assess an apical pulse rate in an infant, the nurse should proceed as follows:

1. Prepare the infant for assessment by ensuring a comfortable position and a quiet environment.
2. Use a stethoscope to listen to the heart sounds. The stethoscope is placed on the chest at the point where the heartbeat is most audible, which is typically at the apex of the heart.
3. Count the beats for one full minute to obtain the infant's apical pulse rate.

For accurate results, it is important to ensure that the infant is calm and not crying during the assessment.