The American Heart Association's guidelines for infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are used on children age <1 year. To check a pulse on an infant, the nurse should palpate the brachial artery by placing 2 or 3 fingers halfway between the shoulder and elbow on the medial aspect of the arm. The pulse should be assessed for 5-10 seconds to determine its presence and quality before CPR is initiated. The brachial pulse is preferred in infants as the brachial artery is close to the surface and is easily palpable. The carotid pulse can be difficult to assess due to a child's shorter neck. Extending an infant's neck to attempt to palpate the carotid pulse can cause injury. This pulse is recommended for clients age >1 year. The femoral pulse may be used for all clients; however, it is often not easily accessible for palpation due to diapers and clothing. The radial pulse is used in responsive clients age >1 year. It is not a recommended method of pulse detection in an unresponsive client as a weak or thready pulse is difficult to palpate at this location.
Educational objective: According to the infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines of the American Heart Association, the brachial artery is used to detect a pulse in an unresponsive client age <1 year.
The American Heart Association's guidelines for infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are used on children age <1 year. To check a pulse on an infant, the nurse should palpate the brachial artery by placing 2 or 3 fingers halfway between the shoulder and elbow on the medial aspect of the arm. The pulse should be assessed for 5-10 seconds to determine its presence and quality before CPR is initiated. The brachial pulse is preferred in infants as the brachial artery is close to the surface and is easily palpable. The carotid pulse can be difficult to assess due to a child's shorter neck. Extending an infant's neck to attempt to palpate the carotid pulse can cause injury. This pulse is recommended for clients age >1 year. The femoral pulse may be used for all clients; however, it is often not easily accessible for palpation due to diapers and clothing. The radial pulse is used in responsive clients age >1 year. It is not a recommended method of pulse detection in an unresponsive client as a weak or thready pulse is difficult to palpate at this location.
Educational objective: According to the infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines of the American Heart Association, the brachial artery is used to detect a pulse in an unresponsive client age <1 year.
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