I think I mentioned here before that I was interested in working in telemetry as a monitor nurse (per diem). My main job is working in a hospital clinic (which I have NO intention of leaving). Well, I was approached by this woman who works in Staff Ed who really, really likes me. She told me that the hospital is opening up new monitors and they would probably need nurses (LPNs in particular), that will monitor these patients. I took an EKG Interpetation and 12 Lead Interpetation course last year for continuing education. I told her this, and she told me to contact the Med Surg Nursing Administrator and tell her of my interest. I would be paid as an agency worker (which would be better money than my regular salary, and get paid quicker than plain overtime).
I emailed the administrator on Wednesday, telling her of all of the continuing ed courses I took (wound care and diabetes), and also asked if I can come to telemetry for a day or two without pay to watch what they do to get a feel. She emailed me back immediately and gave me her extension and pager number. I reached her, finally on Friday, and she told me she wants me to take a test with the med-surg staff ed nurse and call the staff ed nurse on Monday. I am now getting anxious. I am reading over the EKG information, and I am having hopes that they will at least give me a week to fully recover the information. I remember most of it, but it was the small details I basically forgot (P-R interval being 0.12-0.20 for example) and I want to practice some strips from my CD ROMS.
Has anyone taken an EKG test for a job? If so, what were the questions like? At this moment, while I am reviewing all of them, I am trying to focus on the heart blocks (which are MOST confusing to me), ventricular rhythms and junctions (which always looked a bit insane to me). I wish I had continued to read everything continously when I completed the class last April, but I was not exposed to many EKGs. I am remembering alot more as I read, but I guess I am anxious, because I really want this! It would be a bit easier on the body (not the eyes, though, I am sure), to monitor these things, and then, I do really LOVE studying and analyzing EKGs! They are so fascinating! I like trying to figure out what is happening with the heart.
What does a monitor nurse do? As an LPN, it is not covered under my scope of practice to administer the majority of the drugs that are used to treat the patients, since they are IV push, but I am trying to make a note of them, anyhow. Does the monitor nurse also go to see the patient, or do they tell the nurse in charge of that patient that something appears to be wrong?
Oh, please send me positive energy...I want this! And, I am excited to try and take a stab at something new. Thanks, everyone!!
