HESI Health Assessment Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

When a nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse, using a Doppler device to check for pulsations is the best action. This device amplifies the sound of blood flow, allowing the nurse to detect pulse sounds in areas where palpation is challenging or impossible.

The Doppler device operates by sending ultrasound waves through the skin, which bounce off circulating red blood cells and return distinct sounds, indicating the presence and quality of blood flow. This method is particularly useful for assessing peripheral circulation in cases where the pulse is either weak, absent, or difficult to reach due to anatomical variations or vascular conditions.

Other options, such as auscultating over the area with a fetoscope or checking for pulsations with a stethoscope, may not be as effective as the Doppler for assessing a weak or absent pulse. These methods are more suited for auscultating heart sounds rather than directly evaluating peripheral pulses. Using a goniometer, which measures angles and joint movement, is not applicable in this context as it does not provide any information regarding blood flow or pulsations.

Thus, utilizing a Doppler device is the appropriate approach for further evaluating the status of the right radial pulse.