RN Exam Practice
Health Promotion and MaintenanceQuestion 1565 of 2368

A client's radial pulse feels irregular. How long should the nurse count the pulse?

  1. A full 60 seconds
  2. 15 seconds and multiply by 4
  3. 30 seconds and multiply by 2
  4. 10 seconds and multiply by 6
Show answer

Correct answer: A full 60 seconds

Counting for a full 60 seconds is best practice, especially when the rhythm is irregular.

Source: Nursing Skills, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), General Survey: PULSE RATE. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Health Promotion and Maintenance"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026