A nurse is unable to palpate a patient's left pedal pulse. The nurse will correctly first
A) Notify the primary care physician that the patient's pedal pulse is not palpable.
B) Reassess the patient's left pedal pulse every 2 to 4 hours.
C) Chart, "Left pedal pulse nonpalpable, foot warm and dry."
D) Obtain a Doppler to further detect whether the pulse is present.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should first obtain a Doppler to further detect whether the pulse is present before notifying the physician or charting the finding as nonpalpable. This will help confirm whether there is a true absence of the pulse or if it is simply difficult to palpate. Reassessing the pulse is also a valid option, but obtaining a Doppler would provide more information.

A Nurse Is Unable to Palpate a Patient's Left Pedal