new grad telemetry floor

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, I just recently graduated and passed the boards this summer. I was hired on a telemetry floor and start in October. Are their any telemetry nurses who can give me info on what to expect on this type of floor? Any info would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!:nurse::)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, gynecology.

I'm a fairly new nurse (

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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.

Familiarize yourself with the common arrhythmias and their side effects/symptoms ie a. fib. with variable ventricular response,ventricular arrhythmias(they are mostly emergencies like V tach,fib >>codes).Also the common drips for them to be on like Cardiazem,Heparin for afib and the other drips for there. You will be taught this in orientation(hopefully) but the more you know before working there the better off you will be. Most tele floors are VERY busy.

Oh and WELCOME to nursing!!! :) :nurse:

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Well, you should get a pretty good training, consisting of class time, and then also on the floor with a preceptor.

It's like anywhere else. Learn all you can while in training, but realize you won't be expected to know it all when you are on your own. Never be afraid to consult with other nurses when you have questions.

I have worked tele for 8 years and I still consult with other nurses about rhythms I can't figure out, drugs I am not familiar with, etc. (The pharmacist will become your best friend).

As far as the types of patients, it can really vary depending on your floor. I work on a cardiac tele floor (our hospital also has a medical tele floor). We get pts with arrhythmias, lots of syncope, chest pain, MI's, pre and post heart cath, CHF, pacers, etc.

But we also get pts that don't really have a cardiac dx that the doc wants on tele, for example a fx hip that has runs of VT during surgery,.

Does this help?

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

I took the same path, since my ultimate goal is to be a nurse practiioner in acute care in the ICU -- sort of a nurse version of a "hospitalist." Know all the rhythms. Get Dale Dubin's book, "Rapid Interpretation of EKGs" and get the little EKG flip pad to put in your pocket. Keep in mind, you will see rhythms that nurses who've been on the floor 15 years will look at and go, "WTH!?!" I swear, we've got one guy who's trying to come up with his own personal rhythm. I mean, at least once a night there's a bunch of us clustered around a strip going, "well, it's got Ps..." "No, I think that's a T and the P is buried" "I think it's bundle branch block" "But wait..." I'm shameless, if I've got a strip that none of us can figure out, I march my tail right down to ICU and get a 5th or 6th opinion (keep in mind, I'm night shift, so it's not like I can catch a cardiologist on the floor).

Know your drugs! Cardizem (PO, IV Bolus, and drip), Heparin drip (and your friend protamine sulfate), Hespan, aldomet IV, natrecor drip, vasotec IV inside and out (your hospital may have its own drugs of choice, but those are the biggies at mine). Know what they do to heart rate, BP, etc. Know the cardiac enzymes, and what elevation of Ck, CKMB and Troponin I mean (is it indeterminate or positive). FYI, when I've got someone who's getting enzymes q6, I make a grid on my form and chart the readings as they come out to be able to tell the doc trends if I need to call -- and also to make sure the lab comes and pulls them.

Know a lot about blood administration -- I hang out with more blood than a vampire.

If you don't already, you will come to hate drug dealers to a depth that will frighten you.

Know your ACLS inside and out -- and know you're going to be coding a lot of people who should have been allowed to pass peacefully, and hone your coping skills. You're going to be doing a lot of psych -- either the pts or their families. And no, I've never been able to get a doc to write "Adivan 0.5mg NOW for each family member."

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