When do you check the apical pulse instead of radial pulse?

Answer 1

Apical pulse will never be less than the radial pulse. A radial pulse rate less than the apical rate is an example of a pulse deficit, and can be the result of a heart murmur, but the opposite will never occur.

Answer 2

If the radial or any other pulse is too difficult to obtain via palpitation, the apical pulse is relied on. Using a stethoscope and hearing the pulse is generally easier than fumbling around with distal pulses. In some cases every second is crucial. Some services do recommend checking the apical pulse along with lung sounds, although the practice is not common.

If the patient has arrhythmia, sometimes you cannot appreciate all of their heart beats peripherally. In those cases, the only accurate pulse reading would be an apical heart rate.