Telemetry nurses work in a fast-paced environment, at least when they’re on the clock. If you’re a newer nurse, this speciality can help you advance your career by sharpening your vital signs abilities and allowing you to use modern technology like EKG or ECG devices.
Telemetry nurses work in a difficult setting, but most travel nurses aren’t scared of a little difficulty. Telemetry is a rewarding opportunity in terms of patient impact, which is why many nurses choose to become nurses in the first place.
If you’re a seasoned nurse with a specialty in another area, it might be a refreshing change of pace and give you a new perspective on your job.
What Is a Telemetry Nurse?
The telemetry nurse is trained to care for patients with heart illness, heart disease complications, heart failure, or other medical conditions that necessitate continuous telemetry monitoring. Patients who have had a cardiac intervention, such as a cardiac stent or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, are also cared after.
This sort of nurse does not work in a Cardiac Care Unit, which is a form of ICU that specializes in cardiac patients. The telemetry floor patient has frequently been transferred from the ICU and is now deemed stable, but requires continuous monitoring.
What Does a Telemetry Nurse Do?
The output of electrocardiograms (EKGs), which transform the heart’s electrical impulses into a readable rhythm, is read and monitored by a telemetry nurse. The telemetry nurse has been properly trained to identify potentially harmful variations in these rhythms and notify the on-call doctor. They also keep track of blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital indicators. Telemetry nurses may assist with operations such as cardioversions or treatments for various cardiac crises if an abnormal heart rhythm is observed.
Becoming a Telemetry Nurse
Registered nurses who desire to specialize in telemetry will need to take further training. To begin, students must learn how to utilize an electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) machine to monitor a patient’s heart and aid a doctor in detecting irregularities. They’ll also require advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) training to respond if a patient goes into cardiac arrest. If a nurse did not take these courses in nursing school, they may frequently be obtained at local community colleges.
Job outlook
Telemetry nurses have a bright future ahead of them, with positions available owing to a general nursing shortage. Because of the specific training necessary to enter this specialist area of registered nursing, there is a significant demand for telemetry nurses. With cardiac disorders being one of the most common health conditions in the United States, telemetry nursing is a gratifying and reliable career option for RNs wishing to pursue an in-demand specialty.
Conclusion
Telemetry nurses operate in a demanding and stressful workplace. It’s also one that comes with a lot of perks, because to the life-saving effects this specialization has on patients. The demand for these highly experienced nurses continues to rise with the graying of America, as seen by job boards, making this a very promising career choice.