Telemetry Course via Hospital

[MochaFiend]

Hello, again!

I just got word from my boss that I'm going to a telemetry class for three days. What can I expect? I'm sure I'll have to learn arrhythmias, heart functioning, and things like that - but will it cover ALL arrhythmias? I purchased Dale Dublin, MD's Rapid Interpretation of EKG's after I accepted the job offer (orientation on Monday!) and wow, so many different things.

I can do ekg's with my eyes closed, but this is my first monitor tech position.

Thanks!!!

[Quetzalcoatl]

Tele tech? Basic 5 lead monitoring. Basic EKG interpretation - meaning identifying rhythms, learning premature contractions such as atrial, ventricular, junctional. Learning lethal arrythmias.

If you know EKGs already, you'll have no problem. You'll basically just have to be learning protocols per notifying nurses, charting, and running the monitor systems themselves. I've used both GE CIC and Philips. They're not that hard.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I could also add that watching telemetry means you have to learn to distinguish dangerous arrythmias (specifically vtach and torsades) from artifact, which is when the EKG tracing wiggles in a mess due to body movement or tremors. The basic way to do this is to look at all 5 leads to see if it appears in all 5 and to use your calipers (metal or electronic depending on your monitoring system) and see if there is a consistent QRS that marches through the rhythm strip.

Measuring the rhythms isn't difficult; PR, QRS, QT, and possibly RR if you're using a newer Philips system. Generally speaking, it's important to report ST segment elevation - specifically new ones - because it can indicate an MI.

[Princess Bubblegum]

Dubin's book has more information than you'll ever need as a monitor tech but it's a fun read (or it's possible that I'm a huge nerd). :) I taught the monitor tech class at a hospital I worked at a few years ago. You'll probably learn basic anatomy of the heart, how to manually measure out intervals (PR, QRS, QT, etc), calculate heart rate based on a 6 second rhythm strip, identify basic arrhythmias, possibly some pacemaker troubleshooting, differentiating between heart blocks...