Basic Nursing SkillsDifficulty 2/5
A nurse aide measures a radial pulse well outside the resident's usual range. What should the aide do?
- AReport the finding to the licensed nurse without interpreting it
- BRecord the finding in the chart and continue with the assigned care
- CRecheck the pulse repeatedly until a value in the usual range appears
- DExplain to the resident what the abnormal reading is likely to mean
Show answer and rationale
Correct: A. Federal curriculum 483.152(b)(2)(iv) names recognising abnormal changes and the importance of reporting them to a supervisor. The aide observes and reports; the licensed nurse assesses and decides.
- B — Charting is not escalating. An abnormal finding needs both the record and the report.
- C — Repeating until a convenient number appears discards the finding rather than reporting it.
- D — Interpreting a clinical finding for a resident is outside the nurse aide's scope.