New Tele Nurse

Specialties Cardiac

Published

I'm a new grad just got a job as a telemetry nurse. I was wondering if u guys had any advise for a new nurse.

TopsDrop, RN

47 Posts

Specializes in Cardiopulmonary Stepdown/Cath Lab, ICU.

First off: Congrats!!

Second:

Listen to your preceptors/educators, they know their stuff. Don't rush through orientation. Make sure you're ready for the full load before you are to be alone.

Learn your cardiac rhythms/dysrythmias. Know the interventions for the comon ones and other things you can do for pts. Know the protocols surrounding arrhythmias. Most places offer or require EKG interpretation classes.

Know the common heart medication classes and uses i.e. beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, various anti-hypertensives etc...

Sign up for an ACLS class ASAP. Even if your floor doesn't require it, it helps prepare you for worst case "code4/blue" and you generally learn a lot.

Get a good tool to keep yourself organized. "brain sheet" if you will.

I have only been an RN for a year and a half and my first/current job is cardio/pulmonary step down unit. Above is what helped me.

Oh and ask questions if you don't know answers. You learn faster that way. I'm sure some of the more experienced nurses will chime in soon.

sugarmagnoliaRN

543 Posts

Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.

More experienced RNs, please do chime in soon :) I just started as a new grad on a cardiac floor (mostly heart failure pts, but we also get pts with arrhythmias, NSTEMIs, etc) and could use any tips y'all have!

BosSM22

3 Posts

Thanks for the reply

delphine22

306 Posts

Specializes in Quality, Cardiac Stepdown, MICU.

Hang out with the monitor techs. If you see a weird rhythm or they tell you something you don't understand, ask! They love to argue (in a good way) and explain how they came to a conclusion about a particular rhythm. It's not always cut and dried, and after a while you might find you can state your own case and sometimes even convince them!

Also, read all the MDs' progress notes, operative reports, etc. This is easier if you work nights and have time but try to read at least one on one pt per day. You learn the terminology and the reasoning behind why they're doing what they're doing. Or if you have a nice one you can always ask, some love to teach. :-)

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