Took Job on Telemetry Floor...what's Telemetry???

Nurses General Nursing

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I went for a job interview today and when they took me in and sat me down it was the Nurse Manager and a guy she said was the floor supervisor. They were nice and all but I didn't get the impression she really thought I was capable of doing the job, however, when I got home there was a message on the answering machine from the hospital and when I called back they said she wanted to offer me the position and that orientation was in two weeks.

I'm still struggling with the decision (it's so hard to leave the baby, I almost can't bear the thought.)

1.)If I decide not to accept the job I know I need to let them know ASAP but what is the courteous way to do it?

2.)Will they be angry about it or will I still be able to apply for a job there later? Or is this more like being recruited in the army?

3.)Assuming I took the job, what exactly is telemetry?

4.)Is there a list of common drugs they use on this floor?

5.)What would my responsibilities be?

6.)What kind of skills do I need to brush up on? I was as honest as I could be and told them I really had no skills.

I'm scared and having a lot of anxiety over this. I looked at my baby just now and started bawling. I don't know if I can handle this. Maybe I should go get on public assistance or something. Just don't know if I can deal with it.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

Here's a recent thread regarding telemetry and what's it all about:

allnurses.com/forums/f8/i-need-some-help-244928.html

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In the telemetry unit you are monitoring mostly heart patients admitted there for observation. They are hooked up to monitors. Also when they leave the ICU they might still need monitoring more than the med-surg floor. It is like the step down from our ICU unit (or at least that is how it is at our local hospital). I live in a smaller town. It is a lot of rule out MI's et rule out CVAs, post heart cath, ect.

If you decide not to take it, I would just say that after careful consideration you do not think it is a right fit right now and you hope that they will keep your resume on file for a future position. I would not see why you could not get on at a later date. It is better to be up front than to take the job and quit soon down the road.

I would guess that they will teach you to read your monitor strips and such things you need to know. I have never worked in a hospital setting. IVs is one thing you would need to know. And much about the cardiac meds, heparin, ect.

Could you afford to work part-time instead of full-time? I know how you feel going back to work after baby. I did it three times and it killed me each time. Good luck with your decision.

Leslie

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Specializes in Tele, Home Health, MICU, CTICU, LTC.
i went for a job interview today and when they took me in and sat me down it was the nurse manager and a guy she said was the floor supervisor. they were nice and all but i didn't get the impression she really thought i was capable of doing the job, however, when i got home there was a message on the answering machine from the hospital and when i called back they said she wanted to offer me the position and that orientation was in two weeks.

i'm still struggling with the decision (it's so hard to leave the baby, i almost can't bear the thought.)

1.)if i decide not to accept the job i know i need to let them know asap but what is the courteous way to do it?

you call them and tell them. i would say something like "i appreciate the job offer. however, at this time i don't feel that this position is a good fit for me and my family."

2.)will they be angry about it or will i still be able to apply for a job there later? or is this more like being recruited in the army?

this all depends on the manager. some will be mad and other won't. if you want any chance of going back there in the future you need to tell them asap if you are not going to take the job.

3.)assuming i took the job, what exactly is telemetry?

my first job in nursing was telemetry. i can only tell you what it is from my perspective, except that all telemetry floors use cardiac monitoring from portable devices (telemetry monitors). we were the dumping ground for everything. we functioned as a stepdown type unit. we had drips. the charge nurse on our unit was responsible for responding to codes. we had to be acls certified. and much much more......

4.)is there a list of common drugs they use on this floor?

certainly all the common cardiac drugs such as digoxin, nitro, cardizem, lopressor, etc. some units take drips such as nitro, cardizem, dopamine, etc.

5.)what would my responsibilities be?

that depends on the unit. get a job description.

6.)what kind of skills do i need to brush up on? i was as honest as i could be and told them i really had no skills.

if you really feel that you have no skills then you have a lot of work to do. telemetry floors tend to be fast paced, high acuity units. they require top notch assessment skills and the ability to multitask.

i'm scared and having a lot of anxiety over this. i looked at my baby just now and started bawling. i don't know if i can handle this. maybe i should go get on public assistance or something. just don't know if i can deal with it.

good luck with your decision. i learned so much during my year in telemetry.

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Well, congratulations on getting an offer.

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Recall the stuff you learned during your cardio rotation in nursing school---the patho, the rhythm strips, the drugs---that's the basics of tele nursing. If the unit manager knows you don't have tele experience and she still offered you the job then it is reasonable to assume that she has plans to send you on a telemetry course as a part of an extended orientation. This will turn out to be a good thing for you because you will learn new skills, which means more opportunities will be available to you later on.

I encourage you to go for it!

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Specializes in LTC, Sub-acute, correctional.

Well, I know absolutely nothing about telemetry, so I'll skip that part. As far as whether or not to take the offer............ you sound like you're leaning towards "no". Think about why. Is it because you don't want to work at all and would rather go on public assistance? Or is it because you're scared about accepting a job that will require you to step up to the plate and really work your butt off? Trust me, I'm not a workaholic and enjoy my at home life tremendously, but I also know what it's like to feel like I'm selling myself short and taking the easy way out. How would you feel if you didn't give it a try? Regretful? Relieved? I left a nice easy job recently to accept more clinical challenge, and I'm glad I did. Turned out to be a horrendous place, but I can say at least I gave it a try, and showed myself I CAN do it. I wish I could give you better advice, but all I can say is try to figure out your reasons for not accepting this offer. Good luck!

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I wish I could give you better advice, but all I can say is try to figure out your reasons for not accepting this offer. Good luck!

could be wrong, but i sense mama could use a healthy dose of self-confidence.

it's an opportunity, for sure.

i say go for it and strut your stuff. :icon_hug:

leslie

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
could be wrong, but i sense mama could use a healthy dose of self-confidence.

it's an opportunity, for sure.

i say go for it and strut your stuff. :icon_hug:

leslie

I must agree wholeheartedly with Leslie! Mama, this is really a great opportunity to brush up on your skills, this is a better opportunity than a general med-surg floor even. You have expressed trepidation before that you did not have the acute care skills that would allow you to qualify for better non-acute care jobs, well here is your chance! If they read your resume or application, they are well aware that you do not have the skills to function as an experienced nurse and you will probably have an extensive orientation with classes as well as a preceptor, so don't worry about that. Unless they do NOT offer you a good orientation, then I say go for it!

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Take some good EKG classes and extensive cardiac classes. It's very interesting. If you are at all a spatial person you will love cardiac! I do.

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Specializes in Staff nurse.
Take some good EKG classes and extensive cardiac classes. It's very interesting. If you are at all a spatial person you will love cardiac! I do.

...and they will send you to these classes, you will get CEUs for them and you will probably do great! I am med/onc but get floated to tele sometimes. I get help when I need it and it works out well. And if at all possible, go part time. Some units insist on full-time, but if they really want you, they will work it out...you will keep up skills and still be with family.

Hugs and let us know what you decide. More hugs to you & Little One.

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Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.

Cardiac telemetry floors always seem to be hiring nurses and hire new RNs as well. I started out as a new nurse on a tele floor. I learned excellent assessment skills, but felt the floor was too fast paced to allow practice with IV insertions and other med-surg skills.(Telemetry actually means the transmission of data from a remote location using wires or radio waves.) There are neuro telemetry areas as well. But as you can see from the board, the first thought is cardiac. Good luck with your decision.

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