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

Assessing peripheral pulses is a crucial aspect of a comprehensive health assessment, as it provides valuable information about a patient's vascular health and circulation. Notably, evaluating capillary refill in the distal extremities is important because it helps determine peripheral perfusion and circulatory status. A normal capillary refill time is usually less than two seconds, indicating good blood flow. Delays or abnormalities in the capillary refill can suggest issues such as hypoperfusion, which may indicate underlying cardiovascular problems or the effects of other conditions such as shock or peripheral artery disease.

While the presence of a thrill can indicate turbulence in blood flow and may suggest significant vascular changes, this detail is secondary to the functional assessment that capillary refill provides. Older adults can experience variations in pulse strength due to factors such as decreased arterial elasticity, making it essential to assess not just the radial pulse but overall circulation through capillary refill. Ulnar pulses may not be consistently palpable across all individuals, as anatomical variations and differences in vascular health can affect their presence, making this option less reliable as a general assessment criterion.