Which site should the nurse assess to obtain the pulse rate for a 1-year-old child?

The apical pulse is the most appropriate site to assess the pulse rate for a 1-year-old child. The heart rate in infants and toddlers can be quite rapid, and the apical pulse provides a reliable measure of the heart rate since it captures the sounds of the heartbeat directly from the heart, rather than relying on peripheral pulses that may not be as easily palpated or could be influenced by various factors such as anxiety or movement.

In young children, the radial pulse is often difficult to palpate due to their smaller blood vessels and the rapid heartbeat, which can lead to difficulty in counting accurately. While the carotid and femoral pulses can also be assessed, they are less commonly used in infants for routine pulse checks compared to the apical pulse, which is more central and offers a clearer representation of the heart rate. Therefore, assessing the apical pulse is the best practice for determining the pulse rate in a 1-year-old child.