Advanced Monitoring Parameters: HR, PR

Heart Rate (HR), Pulse Rate (PR)

Heart rate (HR) or pulse rate (PR) is the number of heartbeats per minute. The heart rate is based on the number of contractions of the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles. If the heart rate is too fast, this is referred to tachycardia. If the heart rate is or too slow this is referred to bradycardia. Absolute numbers are important, but the trend of a change is an early indicator of a patient beginning to decompensate.^[1]