what is telemetry?

You spelled it right....!

It's a technique of monitoring heart rhythms from a distance, usually just from the patient in their room to a central location usually in the nurses' station.

For a better definition, check this out. It has a bunch of online articles that I think you will enjoy looking over.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=telemetry+cardiac&btnG=Search

'Telemetry' itself just means data transmitted to a remote location. When the space shuttle goes up, all kinds of data come back to NASA, transmitted by radio. That's telemetry.

In a hospital, it generally means a cardiac unit. Patients wear wireless heart monitors. The data are picked up by antennae around the unit. The nurses have computer screens at the nurses' station that will display data for individual pts. They may also carry beepers that go off if there is an alarm for a pt.

These units tend to have older pts. that require more care. These units usually have all RN's & no LPN's, because they are considered 'critical-care' units. Patients may wear monitors even if they don't directly have a heart problem. E.g., a person with severe breathing trouble may have a strain on their heart & need to be monitored.

I'm not a nurse( see user name). I volunteered on such a unit until recently. I hope to get started again soon.