Holter monitor

Nurses General Nursing

Published

My PCP is sending me to a cardiologist and thinks I should wear a Holter monitor for two days. With my upcoming work schedule I will probably be working one of those days. My question is will it be possible to wear this at work? I work on a busy med surg floor. How cumbersome is it? Will it interfere with my patients' telemetry? Also, we are required to wear wireless phones and an electronic "nurse finder" at work. Will these interfere with the holter monitor?

I know what a holter monitor is, but I don't have any "hands on" experience with one. I will ask the cardiologist all of these questions but I just wondered if I should give my manager a head's up if I can't work because one thing could interfere with another. I really want to be able to wear it at work though because I think it would be best to capture the full range of my activities.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

I wore a holter while working as a nurses aide. It didnt interfere with my work, and nobody even noticed it. I did take it out of the little 'purse pouch' and just clip it to my pants.

I think its good to wear it while working b/c it shows whats happening to your heart when you are stressed and/or running around.

Mine was negative, with some PVC's and PAC's thrown in there. I feel those constantly.

Personally, I dont even think your manager needs to know. If somebody asks, you can just say 'oh, the dr just wanted to check my heart'

Good luck!

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Thanks for the info. I hope the one I wear has a clip. That would definitely be more convenient. Do you know if any electronics would interfere with it?

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I'm not a nurse but I am law enforcement and I managed to wear one for two days. It's a little cumbersome but you can make do. I wore it during my daily activities which included flying a helicopter. I didn't have any problems with radio interference but then I don't use the equipment you describe. I don't think interference would be a problem since it records data internally and not by telemetry.

Good luck trying to shower with that thing on. :lol2:

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Good luck trying to shower with that thing on. :lol2:

Are you saying I can't take it off to shower?:eek: Yikes!

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You are not supposed to remove it at all. I recall that where it attaches to your body is water resistant but the unit itself is not waterproof. So you can shower but you have to hold the unit up high over your head so it doesn't get wet. So you are basically only able to use one hand to bathe with.

It builds character........

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Yes you can wear it to work, I did. No you can't shower.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic Transplant Telemetry.

I wore a holter for 24 hours. I didn't have to work that day, but I don't think that it would have interfered with any of the things at work. Fortunately I am, ahem well endowed enough that I could just tuck the transmitter in its case down the front of my bra and it wasn't noticeable.

Good luck, and I hope that everything turns out well for you

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Oh, I have another question...Will I be able to wear a bra while I am hooked up to the monitor?

ETA: I guess my question was answered as I was postiing it.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Oh, I have another question...Will I be able to wear a bra while I am hooked up to the monitor?

Yes, you may.

Ironically, I was involved in a Code situation while working on the night I had to wear mine. The patient did fine and I completely forgot I had the monitor on.

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Yes you can wear it to work, I did. No you can't shower.

My docs staff told me I could so I did. Just don't get it wet.

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HI! I'm new to this site BUT not to having a holter monitor (4 of them and a 24 hr monitor).

I work as a CNA and I didn't have any interference with med. equipment and the holter monitor. I had to wear mine for 2 weeks, YES I could shower. You just disconnect yourself and make sure to reconnect (with new leads of course) afterward.

The only time I COULDN'T shower was with the 24 hr monitor that records and saves on it's own for a 24 hr period.

It wasn't too cumbersome, the only thing that happened was I would bump the record button on things (while in tight quarters of a pt's room) so I would get extra recordings, but I sent them all in.

The event/holter monitor will only record and save when you push the button.

Also wearing a bra is fine, just put the leads where it is feesable (sp wrong, sorry!)

Good luck!

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