Keys to Taking a Radial Pulse

Taking a Radial Pulse WATCH THE ENTIRE VITAL SIGNSKILL: Taking a radial pulse is a basic and essential healthcare skill. It’s a skill that you practice over and over again during your CNA training and is used frequently in the healthcare setting. Unfortunately, it’s also a skill that students fail during their CNA State board testing. Don’t fail an easy skill, learn the keys to taking a radial pulse. The keys to passing the radial pulse portion of vital signs are: - Use your pointer and middle fingers and not your thumb to take the pulse. Your thumb has a pulse so taking a pulse with you thumb can interfere with your reading. - Take the pulse on the thumb side of the hand just above the palm next to the bend of the wrist. - Use your fingertip and not the flat part of the finger. - Don’t push too hard. Pushing too hard can stop the flow of blood and block the pulse. If you are in the right place and still can’t feel it, maybe you are pushing too hard. - Start cou