Skills Hub
patient-prep-vitals
Radial Pulse Measurement
Always tested on the CCMA
Palpate and count the radial pulse.
About this skill
Palpate the radial artery using the pads of the index and middle fingers (not the thumb), count for 30 or 60 seconds, and note rate, rhythm, and force.
8 total steps
2 critical steps
Time limit: 2 min
What graders are watching for
- 1Never use your thumb (it has its own pulse)
- 2Count irregular rhythms for a full 60 seconds
- 3Normal adult rate is 60 to 100 bpm
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- !Using the thumb
- !Pressing too hard (occludes the pulse)
- !Reporting only the rate (rhythm and force are also clinical data)
Practice this skill step-by-step
The static walkthrough above is the marketing overview. The full step-by-step interactive practice (with critical-step highlighting, per-step "why this matters" rationale, and what graders watch for on each individual step) is unlocked with a subscription.