The nurse on a medical-surgical unit palpates a patient's carotid pulse for 30 seconds and obtains a rate of 80 beats/min.The nurse knows in obtaining a patient's carotid pulse she must be careful that her technique does not cause a/an:

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When assessing for a pulse using palpation of the carotid artery,it is important to palpate only one side of the neck at a time.Additionally,palpation should be light and the nurse must avoid massaging the area.Massaging the carotid can create a Valsalva response causing a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.

The Nurse on a Medical-Surgical Unit Palpates a Patient's Carotid