Question

You are a nurse in charge of determining what the normal or average heart rate of patients in your hospital is- how would you do this? Would you expect the average heart rate of your patients to be the same in each hospital or setting? Explain?

Answer 1

A normal heart rate is generally stated to be between 60-100 beats per minute rest(sitting,relaxing,etc;)however,,recent studies (here and here)have suggested that an ideal resting heart rate is between 50-70 beats per minute.

taking the pulse allows us to find out ehat the patients's heart rate is and to assess the strengtg,regularity,and character of the pulse.irregularities might indicate a heart problem and must be investigated.

taking the pulse also provides initial recording (a baseline)that will enable us to compare fiture measuraments and monitor changes in our patient's condition.

the pulse can be measured at several points in the body.these points are where an aryery is situated just under the skin,where it can be compressed against a bone,allowing us to feel each baet.

this article will cover the measurement of the pulse at the radial point(inside the wrist)as this is the most common point at which to measure the pulse of the eye patients.

note:many things-such as anxiety,pain and fever-can raise the patients pulse(heart rate)and certain medications such as beta blockers or digoxin can lower it;all of these reasons should be considered when assessing and recording the patients pulse.if you are taking repeat measurements of the same patient,try to measure the pulse under the same conditions each time.

what is normal?

a normla pulse is regular and strong.haert rates,and therefore pulse rates(number of beats per minute)change with age and can vary between of the same age.

normal pulse rate /heart rate,by age

newborn 100-180

infant 80-150

child 26 years 75-120

child 6-12 70-110

adolscent-adult 60-90