Telemetry Techs vs. Nurses

nursemaa · Sep 23, 2005

The person who is better at reading rhythms is probably the one who has received training, and looks at and analyzes them most often, regardless of job title. Could be a nurse, a tech, or a doctor.

Maggie Mae · Sep 23, 2005

Why do you hate me? come on where is the love!? :crying2:

Jubei · Sep 24, 2005

Why do you hate me? come on where is the love!?

Cuz', I hate being told I'm wrong about a strip WHEN I know I'm right concured by a 12 lead EKG reading.

:)

HappyNurse2005, RN · Sep 24, 2005

The person who is better at reading rhythms is probably the one who has received training, and looks at and analyzes them most often, regardless of job title

yeah, that.

i've had the same rhythm training as the monitor techs here, but they sit and look at them for 12 hours straight, and I don't. They are better at it than me. of course, i've also not been a nurse for that long.

Though its a little strong to say you hate someone who doesn't know the difference....

HappyNurse2005, RN · Sep 24, 2005

I hate nurses who can't tell the difference between a Wenckebach, a Mobitz II, or a dissociated AV freaking block.

longer, longer, longer drop=wenckebach. the PR interval gets longer each time then it drops. in the mobitz II, i beleive the PR interval stays fixed at over 0.2, and they do drop a qrs every so often.

though, i don't know if "dissociated AV freaking block" is an official rhythm. I'll have to ask my monitor tech :) (just joking)

do i pass?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2005

Don't be so judgemental. If you have knowledge and training that your nurses don't, share it rather than hate.

RN12345656 · Sep 24, 2005

Who's better at reading rhythms?
I say the techs (I'm an LVN and a monitor tech by-the-by).
I hate nurses who can't tell the difference between a Wenckebach, a Mobitz II, or a dissociated AV freaking block.

I can tell you this jubei...I was a tele tech for 3 years before I got my RN license. So, I too can speak for both sides. I was trained for 4 months on my rhythms and received my certification(for Tele). In nursing school, my fellow classmates got 2 days in class. Then, when we were hired, we had 2 days of orientation to cover rhythms. Those nurses who don't know the difference between Mobitz I or II , CHB or AV disassociation, do realize their pts need to be assessed and a doctor needs to be called.

You know what I dislike?.....when tele techs call all the time to tell me leads are off or if the pts battery has died. They call me more for that rather than new onset AFib. It is frustrating. I know what is going on with my pts more than they do. That is also why when we move to the new hospital in Jan'06 --Sentara Heart--Telemetry is NOT moving with us. I wonder why?

Curious how others feel..

Jubei · Sep 25, 2005

You know what I dislike?.....when tele techs call all the time to tell me leads are off or if the pts battery has died. They call me more for that rather than new onset AFib. It is frustrating.

It's their (my) JOB to tell you that the leads are off. You disliking it DOESN'T matter. Would you rather have us tell you that the pt is in V-fib when it could just be an artifact. Of course, if all 5 leads were on, we could distinguish the strip better.

As for for the batteries, I think your charge nurse, nursing manager, and MD WOULD WANT YOU TO REPLACE that battery....You know, just in case the pt codes and FOR LEGAL purposes, your unit's covered.

DianeS, RN · Sep 25, 2005

Who's better at reading rhythms?
I say the techs (I'm an LVN and a monitor tech by-the-by).
I hate nurses who can't tell the difference between a Wenckebach, a Mobitz II, or a dissociated AV freaking block.

I work on a cardiac step down unit. We have tele techs who monitor our teles for 12 hour shifts every day. From my experience, they are definitely better than I am! :rotfl:

RN12345656 · Sep 25, 2005

It's their (my) JOB to tell you that the leads are off. You disliking it DOESN'T matter. Would you rather have us tell you that the pt is in V-fib when it could just be an artifact. Of course, if all 5 leads were on, we could distinguish the strip better.
As for for the batteries, I think your charge nurse, nursing manager, and MD WOULD WANT YOU TO REPLACE that battery....You know, just in case the pt codes and FOR LEGAL purposes, your unit's covered.

What are you so mad about?

You obviously do not know me..stop making judgements.

First of all...we need to get a few things straight. Telemetry is set up at the nurses station were I work. I am always watching it. I depend on it (that is the tele tech in me). If one lead comes off the pt (you can still see the pts rhythm) and I am busy with another pt taking care of flash pulmonary edema--I am not going to rush right in and fix the leads. This is what I am talking about. I NEVER let pts go without a battery. I just hate being called every fricking 5 mins when there is a low battery. I will get to it when I am finished putting out the current fire I am working on. When I'm in charge--one of the things I do when I am rounding is making sure every pts leads are on and I replace batteries if needed.

Hope we have that cleared up.

As far as your original post--you went to LPN school. How many arrhythmias did you cover in LPN school? Probably less or zero compared to the RNs. The average nurse does not know their strips compared to a tele tech.

Just curious, why are you a tele tech? Do they make more than a LPN? It sounds like you have an ax to grind....what's up?

Else567 · Sep 25, 2005

Who's better at reading rhythms?
I say the techs (I'm an LVN and a monitor tech by-the-by).
I hate nurses who can't tell the difference between a Wenckebach, a Mobitz II, or a dissociated AV freaking block.

Hello all from Balmy NorthEast,Pa.

Hi there Jubei,I would first like to say,,"Hate"is a very strong word to be using.

I worked in Tele for some 7.5 yrs.I am an LPN,Been a nurse for quite some time.

In nursing school,we had Critical Care rotation for 5 weeks,

A wonderful rotation,that was in 1993.

Right out of nursing school,I went to work at our local hospital.

I knew a bit about strips,Also during hospital orientation,had 2 weeks,yep,2 weeks of Arrthymia training,who taught us,the Tele Techs,,they were absoultly wonderful!

What they DID NOT DO,was be judgemental.

I learned a lot.

Could read a strip with the best of them

I also, when the need arose served as monitor tech for some 32 monitors,for RN/LPN alike.

I never ever once made(nor did the rountine Tech)make anyone feel inadquate if he/she did not fully understand the strips.

It sounds to me like you have a grudge,ax to grind,or maybe just strut your stuff?

Do you have this attitude in your work place?

I can tell you for sure,the attitude you seem to be conveying here wouldn't last 1 hour where I work.

What about being a team player?

If a battery is dead/weak/leads are off.etc.etc.etc...I know for a fact,the charge nurse is usually always behind the desk,monitors close by, they also can watch the monitors usually for a few minutes,why don't you change them yourself, you also being a LVN,know when the nurses are in patient rooms,you just usually can't drop that minute what your doing & go to where ever the problem is?

I would be very curious to talk with some of your coworkers in this situation?

Don't judge others because they may not be as expert as you reading the strips,I'm pretty certain that there are a few things that you as well are not as proficent in,,,maybe starting IV's,,,whatever it may be.I'm sure you as well wouldn't want someone to say about you,well,that so & so,couldn't start an IV if her life depended on it.

Or I'm also certain you wouldn't want someone saying,I can't stand that Monitor Tech/LVN,she doesn't know the difference between a Nasel Cannula & a NG tube!

I know,a tad extreme,but same point.

Just rememebr Jubie,we are all nurses,we all excell at different things.

Happy Fall

Elsie*