[mango-lo-maniac]

..

[mnurse3139]

In our hospital we only have a monitor tech for telemetry, we dont have one in the unit, we all pretty much keep and ear out for the alarms. you should have a refresher course in all rythms. afib, vfib, vtach, 1st degree - 3rd degree, a-tach, and the norms. any ekg book will do a good job just about. you will learn the rhythms better once you start working. oh and most hospital use the 5 lead monitors at least they do in South Texas.

[tridil2000]

Originally Posted by mango-lo-maniac

Hey everyone! I'm a former paramedic now in PA school, and I'm looking for a job to help out with the student budget. I'm interviewing for a job as a monitor tech in a trauma center MICU later this week, and I have a few questions for any nurses who work in MICUs.

First, does this job typically require single-lead monitoring or 12-lead monitoring? I have to take a rhythm interpretation test and am curious how deep of a refresher I need to do.

Second, what common problems do you see with monitor techs in general? What do you wish they knew but no one seemed to tell them? Since I'd be reporting to nursing staff if I get the job, I'd love to learn from you guys how I could best do the job.

Thanks!!

you'll be a big hit if you can differenciate afib with abbarency vs. v tach. one clue is that in ashman's, the r to r, prior to the beats, is prolonged.

http://www.mdchoice.com/ekg/ek11-95.asp

on the rhythm strip at the bottom of this ecg, you will see the long r to r prior to the ectopic beats. they're not pvcs, but abbarently conducted beats.

now, why are you going to get your pa instead of your rn or np?

[mango-lo-maniac]

..