Telemetry anxiety

[Sassybottom]

Hey,

My floor has a few telemetry beds and all nurses are expected to take a course to become proficient with reading tele strips.

I overhear nurses talking about the course and all the different readings and it seems so confusing! Will it get easier? Will things click? I probably will be expected to start my course within the next couple of months or so. Any helpful hints? Insights?

Worried

[oldiebutgoodie, RN]

Take the course. It will all be much clearer to you. Now, when I look at a strip, it makes perfect sense.

Oldiebutgoodie

[RedCell]

Don't worry about it too much. There are only two things you need to know. 1) If the patient's rhythm is really fast (greater than 120), thats bad call for help or give required drugs. 2) If the patient's rhythm is really slow (below 50), call for help or give required drugs. Thats the basic knowledge you need to know and act on. Everything else just comes with experience. Also know that there are two laws in the House of God to always abide by. They are; 1) Gomers dont die 2) The delivery of good medical care is to do as much nothing as possible. If you follow these basic laws your patients always have good outcomes. Believe me, this philosophy works.

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

[evil]

also know that there are two laws in the house of god to always abide by. they are; 1) gomers dont die 2) the delivery of good medical care is to do as much nothing as possible. if you follow these basic laws your patients always have good outcomes. believe me, this philosophy works.

[/evil]

scary, but i'm beginning to think this is true! i've dubbed it munchausen by proxy nurse syndrome, causing a problem by unnecessary action on your "gomer"and then calling the doc at 3am to help fix it quick. example, giving all the betablockers, calcium channel blockers and lasix when your pt's blood pressure is 110 systolic and a heart rate of 55..."oh doctor, please let me save a life with a bolus of ns, some digoxin, and a dopamine drip!"

[AngBthatsme]

Take the class and remember this. If you practice strips every time you work eventually it will get easier. Until you are proficient....remember this, if it isnt sinus rythm and youre not sure get a second opinion.