The nurse needs to obtain a radial pulse from a patient. What must the nurse do to obtain a correct measurement?
a. Place the tips of the first two fingers over the groove along the thumb side of the patient's wrist.
b. Place the tips of the first two fingers over the groove along the little finger side of the patient's wrist.
c. Place the thumb over the groove along the little finger side of the patient's wrist.
d. Place the thumb over the groove along the thumb side of the patient's wrist.
ANS: A
Place the tips of the first two or middle three fingers of the hand over the groove along the radial or thumb side of the patient's inner wrist. Fingertips are the most sensitive parts of the hand to palpate arterial pulsation. The thumb has a pulsation that interferes with accuracy. The groove along the little finger is the ulnar pulse.
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