vermillionsky

For a 6 second strip, we normally look at Lead II on the top and V1 on the bottom. This is because they are like "mirror" images of each other. Sometimes you get poor amplitude on your two main leads so you can switch to your other leads to get a better view, or if for some reason the monitor is picking up too much noise in one lead only.

I am a tele tech and I think your patient load is outrageous. At my facility, we have 2 monitor techs watching around 20-30 rhythms apiece. At full capacity, we have around 75 rhythms combined. We are a smaller hospital, so having that many patients is downright difficult and unsafe as critical changes have been missed due to too many people being watched and alarm fatigue. I can't even imagine watching 64pts each. I suppose it also depends on what sort of rhythms you get? If it is 60 pts who are in SR with very little ectopy then I suppose it would be pretty manageable for one tech. But if you are getting tricky rhythms like AV blocks, junctional, afib/flutter etc that are constantly alarming or if you have to watch closely for SVT or runs of VT then that sounds like a nightmare honestly. But there are alot of similarities between our facilities. Our techs hardly ever get breaks and the higher ups still deduct a lunch break from their paychecks. We have had multiple meetings where we were told that it's our responsibility to find an ACLS trained nurse to come relieve us but they are too busy to ever help. As far as adding a third tech goes, good luck! We have been doing talks for years and nothing has ever come of it. It really comes down to management not wanting to have to pay for a third tech each shift, even if it would make the workload more manageable and safer. It's expensive and apparently not worth it to them. I can't answer the questions about your system as we do not utilize GE. Honestly I think the only way that things will change is if something really bad happens related to the ridiculous workload and lack of enough staff. A lawsuit or something like that would really get the ball rolling so you could see some much-needed change. Barring that, I highly doubt management will ever take your concerns seriously because in their eyes you are "just a monitor tech" and not as important as some of the other staff. Good luck to you though!