Pulse apical

When administering a /3 -adrenergic blocking drug, such as propranolol (Inderal), the nurse should take an apical pulse rate and blood pressure before giving the drug. If pulse is below 60 bpm or if systoiic blood pressure is less than 90 mm Hg, the nurse should withhold the drug and contact the primary health care provider. 

FIGURE 39-3. Hie nurse counts the apical pulse for 1 minute prior to administering the cardiotonic. 

Before administering tire first dose of tire drug, tire nurse takes the patient s vital signs and documents tire apical pulse rate and rhythm. 

Take apical pulse and notify the physician of a pulse rate of 60 beats/minute or less or a rate less than that indicated by the physician... 

A few seconds after the injection (which was given as rapidly as possible, to avoid total destruction in the blood) the patient sat up with knees drawn up to the chest, the arms flexed and the head bent forward. There were repeated violent coughs, sometimes with flushing. Forced swallowing and loud peristaltic rumblings could be heard. Respiration was laboured and irregular. The coughing abated as the patient sank back in the bed. Forty seconds after the injection the radial and apical pulse were zero and the patient became comatose. The pupils dilated, and deep reflexes were hyperactive. In 45 seconds the patient went into opisthotonos with brief apnoea. 

Check the apical pulse before administering digoxin. Do not administer if pulse rate is less than 60 bpm (may be lower for elderly patients). 

Assess B/P and apical pulse before administration and periodically after dose. 

Before administration Concurrent therapy of sublingual nitroglycerin may be used for relief of anginal pain. Record onset, type (sharp, dull, squeezing), radiation, location, intensity, and duration of anginal pain, and precipitating factors (exertion, emotional stress). Assess baseline renal/liver function tests. Assess B/P apical pulse immediately before drug is administered. 

Before administration Obtain baseline B/P, apical pulse Evaluate 12-lead ECG, CPK, CPK-MB, and electrolytes. ... 

Apical pulse—Point at the apex (bottom portion) of the heart impacts... 

Hypertension, shortness of breath, dizziness, inability to concentrate, a loud palpable fourth heart sound, "thrusting" apical pulse, and hypertensive changes on fundal examination were reported in a 39-yr-old man who had taken various ginseng products for 3 yr (Hammond and Whitworth, 1981). His blood pressure measured 140/100 mm Hg on three occasions over 6 wk, and when referred for management of his hypertension it was 154/106 mm Hg. He was advised to discontinue the ginseng products, and 5 d later was normotensive at 140/85 mm Hg. At 3 mo follow-up, he remained normotensive and his other symptoms had resolved. No attempt was made to confirm the identity or composition of the ginseng products. 

Is the apical pulse (AP) less than 60 beats per minute (bpm) ... 

Atropine is the medication of choice for the client with lightheadedness and dizziness from sinus bradycardia manifested by low apical pulse rate therefore, the nurse would not question administering this medication. 

The client receiving a beta blocker who has an apical pulse of 62 beats per minute. 

Carvedilol (Coreg), a beta blocker, to a client with an apical pulse of 62. 

The client s apical pulse is within normal limits. 

The apical heart rate should be greater than 60 beats per minute before a beta blocker is administered because the apical pulse is 62, the nurse should administer this medication. 

The apical pulse is above 60, so the nurse would not question administering a beta blocker in this situation. 

The nurse should assess the client s apical pulse before administering any medication that affects the heart rate the client should be taught to check the radial pulse when taking the medication at home. 

The apical pulse can be monitored, but when administering medications for a dysrhythmia, a change in the electrical conductivity of the heart to normal sinus rhythm is the best way to determine the effectiveness of the medication. The normal apical pulse rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. 

The nurse would question administering a beta blocker if the elient s apical pulse was less than 60 beeause this medication decreases the heart rate. 

If the client s apical pulse is less than 60, the medication should be held so that the client s pulse will not plummet to less than 60, which is sinus bradycardia. 

Hytrin is not contraindicated in a client who has a headache the apical pulse should be greater than 60. 

The client s apical pulse must be assessed prior to administering the medication, but this data is not used to determine the effectiveness of the medication. 

This is the second intercostal space left sternal notch, which is used to auscultate the pulmonic valve, but it is not where the apical pulse is assessed. 

The apical pulse located at the fifth intercostal midclavicular space must be assessed for 1 minute prior to administering digoxin. If the apical pulse is less than 60 beats per minute, the nurse should hold the medication. 

Assess the client s blood pressure and apical pulse. 

Assess the client s apical pulse and blood pressure. 

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