A pulse rate of 54 beats per minute is best described as:

• A. Tachycardia
• B. Atrial Fibrillation
• C. Bradycardia
• D. Normal Sinus Rhythm

Answer: (C)

A pulse of 54 beats per minute is slower than normal for an adult at rest, which is described as bradycardia. The typical resting range is about 60–100 bpm, so anything below 60 fits bradycardia. This is distinct from tachycardia, which is a fast rate over 100 bpm. Normal Sinus Rhythm implies a normal rate and regular rhythm, which isn’t the case here since the rate is below normal. Atrial fibrillation is a rhythm disturbance (often irregular) and isn’t defined by a slow rate alone. The key idea is that a resting rate under 60 bpm indicates bradycardia.