When measuring a radial pulse, how long should you count the beats to determine heart rate?

• A. 10 seconds
• B. 30 seconds
• C. 60 seconds
• D. 2 minutes

Answer: (C)

Measuring heart rate means determining how many times the heart beats in one minute. Counting the radial pulse for the full 60 seconds gives you an accurate beats-per-minute value and captures any short irregularities or pauses that a shorter count might miss. If you only count for a portion of a minute and estimate, you introduce rounding errors and can misread the actual rate, especially if the rhythm isn’t perfectly regular. While shorter counts plus multiplication can be quicker, the full-minute count provides the most reliable measurement in typical health assessments.