Starting new tele job soon

SteffersRN87, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2009

This is a pretty good site for learning rhythms... http://www.rnceus.com/course_frame.asp?exam_id=16&directory=ekg (if you need help learning them, send me a private message - I was a monitor tech for 3 years)

As far as medications, I would brush up on cardiac drips (Cardizem, Amiodarone, Natrecor), heparin drips and coumadin, beta blockers, and that's all I can think of at the moment.

I would review care of the patient with CHF, which is a biggie on telemetry units. Know all your cardiac-related lab values (CK-MB, troponin, BNP, Mg, K+, PTT, PT/INR).

Now I am not sure if you will be caring for heart caths, but if you are... know the assessment for when they come back, groin care, and when to call the doctor.

cardiacmadeline, RN · Jun 25, 2009

Buy Dale Dubin's "Rapid Interpretation of EKG's". Excellent source for learning EKGs.

LisalaRN99, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2009

I, too, will be starting a telemetry job in July. I am returning to Tele after a 3 year hiatus. I am currently in Addictions/Mental Health nursing, which was my area before nursing, and thought I'd give that a try. I like it, but it is nothing like hospital nursing, and you definitely lose your med/surg (and tele) skills! Since it has been 3 years since I even started an IV, interpreted an EKG rhythm strip, or even gave a bedbath, I feel it's like starting over as a new nurse! I'm sure I will get my bearing in time, and I am very excited! I checked out the website suggested for EKG rhythms. It's very good. And I also have Dubin's Rapid EKG Interpretation. It is a good book, if you don't have it. I got it at Barnes and Nobles. Good luck to you, and let us know how you do! I highly recommend Telemetry as a specialty because we get the SAME patients as they get on a med/surg floor, except, they have tele orders. Any surgical patient with a cardiac history, usually goes post op to tele. Yes, it's a lot of CHF, Pneumonia, and "Chest Pain, R/O MI". A lot of those turn out to be "epigastric" and have negative caths. When tele is discontinued, and they stay in the hospital, they transfer to med/surg. You have 5-6 patients, usually, on tele, and they have 8-9 patients on med/surg. Plus, tele is considered a specialty!