How is a pulse assessed?

Assessing a pulse involves palpating the arteries, which allows the healthcare provider to feel the rhythm and strength of the heartbeat. This method involves placing fingers over specific pulse points, such as the radial artery in the wrist or the carotid artery in the neck. The healthcare provider then counts the number of beats per minute to determine the heart rate. This assessment is crucial for understanding a patient's cardiovascular health and can indicate various conditions based on the pulse characteristics.

While measuring heart rhythm is important, it alone does not provide a complete assessment of the pulse, as it does not account for the strength or rate of the beats. Similarly, using a stethoscope to auscultate the heart provides information about heart sounds but does not give a direct measure of the pulse. Counting breaths per minute pertains to respiratory assessment and is not related to pulse evaluation. Thus, palpating arteries and measuring beats per minute is the most comprehensive and accurate method for assessing pulse in a clinical setting.