help me not dread telemetry

Clorae · Apr 13, 2010

I am a student, and I actually enjoy the topic. I am not sure what you are looking for? If you already passed your telemetry course, than I imagine you must understand the basic concepts. If that is the case, than the advice I am about to offer you may be moot.

Anyway, the website http://www.skillstat.com has a great simulator. Click on "tools" and then "ekg simulator". You can practice identifying rhythms.

Also, Measure, measure, measure! that is the secret, especially with the heart blocks.

The problem that I find, is that I can identify any rhythm on a sample strip, but when it comes down to a real monitor strip, it never looks as 'picture perfect':) Good luck to you.

Lizzy88 · Apr 13, 2010

If you hate it so much then why did you get a certification on it? Also, if you hate so much you can choose something else, something that you'll like. When you work in something that you hate you'll never be happy and the pts may feel your unhappiness or the consequences of it. Hope you will find an area that you like.

file03 · Apr 13, 2010

my floor had me take the certification. some pts on our floor are on it. that's why.

i just get nervous with it because I feel stupid with it. I can read basic rhythms, but complicated ones, ugh. but its my fault for not trying to really learn it and feel confident.

lysharnbsn · Apr 13, 2010

I feel your pain! LOL I am not the best with cardio and telemetry also! I have been a nurse for almost 4 years and recently got a job on a surgical and peds floor at a differant hospital. This floor has telemetry on it and definatly took me out of my "comfort zone". I did not do well with it at first, and had to re-take the class. Much like yourself, I took the class because some pts are on tele on my floor.

I definatly have trouble with heart blocks and differentiating beetween each. My nurse educator for the floor has been great along with my charge nurses. I am now telemetry certified and like learning about each rythem. I had a patient with afib with RVR last week and on a cardizem drip.............it scared the **** outa me! But with much education and confidence, I did well!

Utilize your charge nurses, experianced nurses, and educators when it comes to tele. While I love peds...............tele is a differant story haha. I just wanna be the best nurse I can be! :nurse:

Lysha RN, BSN

pers · Apr 13, 2010

Perhaps ask about sitting with the monitor tech for a shift or two? Practice is really the only way to improve and that would give you a lot of practice quickly.

mommyX2 · Apr 13, 2010

One way to look at telemetry, in order to like it more is to think "at least I know at the beginning of my shift that those pts are alive". That is what makes me love tele. Pts without tele scare me cause I never know what I will find when I go in that room.

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Apr 13, 2010

Practice, practice, practice! I am the charge nurse on a Tele unit. Someone suggested that you take a couple of shifts with the monitor tech. I think this is a great idea. There are still rhythms that I don't understand well. Take every opportunity to learn. Bring the strip to the cardiologists while he is rounding and ask questions. Our cardiologist generally like to explain the" tricky" rhythms. Get a good reference book to refer to during the day. Ask other seasoned nurses to share their knowledge.

I am the unit educator for our unit and I recently listed every imaginable rhythm on a piece of paper and had every nurse sign up to do a poster education on that rhythm. The poster education needs to include what the rhythm looks like, causes and nursing interventions. I chose a flutter. I learned things about it while doing my poster. I believe that when you teach, you learn.

Give yourself a break. Study a little bit about the rhythms everyday and ask questions. I have faith that you will get more confident.