Telemetry Monitoring

[JessicaT]

I am attempting to update our telemetry monitoring process and would like to see how other organizations operate.

How often are strips printed and interpreted?

How do you document the strips:

On the strip itself, mount the strip on a form and fill it in, in the EHR, etc.

[NewEnglandRN16]

We print a strip at start of shift and post to a monitoring sheet that goes into the chart. We document every 2hr on EMR. If there is any change in rhythm we post another strip and document. If there is a change in rhythm we also post the vitals with the strip and what was done for that rhythm.

[JessicaT]

Is that on a telemetry unit or ICU?

[NewEnglandRN16]

5 minutes ago, JessicaT said:

Is that on a telemetry unit or ICU?

I assume your talking to me.
Its a step down unit. But it’s the same for all units except the monitoring via EMR is every 4 hours. You would still post the same. ICU is every hour.
Also we monitor our own tele.

[JessicaT]

1 hour ago, NewEnglandRN16 said:

I assume your talking to me.
Its a step down unit. But it’s the same for all units except the monitoring via EMR is every 4 hours. You would still post the same. ICU is every hour.
Also we monitor our own tele.

When I worked in CVICU the primary nurse would print the patient's strips at the beginning of his/her shift, tape them to a rhythm sheet, measure/interpret the strip, and place in to the chart. Then if there were any changes they would add them. The patient's rhythm was only documented in EHR with assessments or as indicated.

When I started my current position the tele-tech monitors the patients on the med-surg unit. They print, post, and measure/interpret rhythms every 4 hours and as indicated. I feel this is overkill and would like to change it.

Would you happen to have a policy you could share?

[OUxPhys, BSN, RN]

My old employer it was every shift (so every 12 hours) or whenever there was a change in rhythm. My current employer is every 8 hours and anytime there is a rhythm change. My employer we originally had to print off strips and tape into chart however we eventually got the ability to look and measure at the strip in EPIC and the strip was uploaded electronically into the pt chart. Current job we have a monitor tech who prints off strips and adds to chart.