Where on the body is a pulse most commonly taken?

A pulse is most commonly taken at the radial artery on the thumb side of the wrist, or at the carotid artery in the neck.

Describe how a breathing rate is counted.

A breathing rate is counted by watching the rise and fall of the chest for a full minute, with one rise and one fall counted as a single breath.

Why is the moment of counting breaths not announced to the participant?

A person aware that their breathing is being counted at that instant often alters it without meaning to, so the count is taken discreetly after consent has been given for the whole procedure.

CCEA A-Level Health and Social Care 0003

Promoting Quality Care

Topic overview The values of care and their impact on service users Individual rights and choices Anti-discriminatory practice Respect, dignity and confidentiality Children's rights and special educational needs legislation Human rights and safeguarding legislation Disability discrimination legislation Mental health legislation and capacity Health and safety legislation, COSHH and RIDDOR Policies that promote quality care Poor practice and its impact on people

Communication in Health, Social Care and Early Years Settings

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Health and Well-Being

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Safeguarding Children

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Understanding the Physiology of Health and Illness

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Body Systems and Physiological Disorders

Topic overview The heart and the cardiac cycle Blood, blood vessels and the double circulation Control of heart rate and blood pressure The respiratory system, ventilation and gas exchange Behaviour that protects the heart and lungs Normal ranges for pulse and breathing rates, and causes of deviation Monitoring pulse and breathing safely before and after exercise Presenting and analysing monitoring results Coronary heart disease, asthma and other physiological disorders Diagnostic techniques and what each one shows Treatments, care pathways, practitioners and support services The effects of a physiological disorder on everyday life

Providing Services

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Supporting the Family

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Understanding Human Behaviour

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Body Systems and Physiological Disorders

Monitoring pulse and breathing safely before and after exercise

3 things to know
A2 2

Overview

How a pulse is counted by hand, how a breathing rate is counted and four features of a safe environment for monitoring.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Describe how a pulse is counted by hand.

Key term

Why should the thumb not be used to take somebody's pulse?

Key term

Compare counting for fifteen seconds and multiplying by four with counting for a full minute.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Where on the body is a pulse most commonly taken?
Model answer
A pulse is most commonly taken at the radial artery on the thumb side of the wrist, or at the carotid artery in the neck.
2
Describe how a pulse is counted by hand.
Model answer
A pulse is counted by pressing lightly with two fingertips over the artery and counting the beats felt across a full minute.
3
Why should the thumb not be used to take somebody's pulse?
Model answer
The thumb has a noticeable pulse of its own, so using it risks counting the measurer's own heartbeat instead of the participant's.
4
Compare counting for fifteen seconds and multiplying by four with counting for a full minute.
Model answer
Counting for fifteen seconds is quicker, but any miscount is multiplied by four, so a full minute gives the more accurate figure.
5
Describe how a breathing rate is counted.
Model answer
A breathing rate is counted by watching the rise and fall of the chest for a full minute, with one rise and one fall counted as a single breath.
6
Why is the moment of counting breaths not announced to the participant?
Model answer
A person aware that their breathing is being counted at that instant often alters it without meaning to, so the count is taken discreetly after consent has been given for the whole procedure.

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Promoting Quality Care

Communication in Health, Social Care and Early Years Settings

Health and Well-Being

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ACounting for fifteen seconds is quicker.

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CA full minute gives the more accurate figure.

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