Telemetry Nursing Duties

All nurses must fulfill certain responsibilities in patient care, but specialties such as telemetry nursing require additional knowledge. Telemetry nursing deals with patients in a critical environment. These nurses usually perform well under pressure and maintain a lighter patient load because of the increased attention each patient requires.

Technological Responsibilities

• Technology quickly advances in the medical profession and telemetry nurses often sit on the forefront of such changes. Each nurse must be familiar with the equipment used by the hospital. Expert knowledge of cardiac monitoring is a must. Not all patients will be on an electrocardiogram monitor, but most will. Nurses must identify heart rhythms looking for abnormalities or problematic patterns. Certain drugs require particular care and the telemetry nurse must be familiar with various pumping systems controlled by staff and the patient.

Extra Care to Families and Patients

• Because of the critical nature of the patients, telemetry nurses must work to honestly provide information to the family and patient while maintaining a sense of hope. Often times the descriptions of treatments and diagnoses can be frightening and the nurse must find a way to provide a calming outlook. Close monitoring of all patients is required. This means monitoring vital signs and patient reactions more often than in other departments. A clear set of parameters should be set for when the doctor must be notified in order to keep the patient safe and comfortable.

Special Patient Teaching

• When cardiac patients return home extensive rules must be followed. These rules vary according to the type of surgery or cardiac event the patient suffered. Telemetry nurses are responsible for providing the patient with all the relevant information regarding care including medication schedules, activity restrictions, physical limitations and time frame for return visits. These directions are often quite detailed and include informing family or caregivers as well as the patient. Telemetry nurses go over these duties multiple times to ensure the proper patient teaching. It is the job of the nurse to do everything possible to ensure patient compliance upon discharge.

Discharge Planning and Nursing Diagnosis

• Telemetry nurses formulate specific nursing diagnoses and goals during the patient stay. These are used as a benchmark to showcase progress as well as note regression. These goals, such as being able to eat solid food, walk down the hall without stopping or standing without aid help to determine the amount of care required when the patient is discharged. Telemetry nurses also work with the patient to decide where he will go after the hospital. Some patients require step down facilities due to limitations in home resources, while others need to be integrated into self-care scenarios. Setting appropriate goals so the patient and nurse feel successful aids in the recovery process.