When somebody gets out of the intensive care unit of a hospital, they are in a particularly vulnerable state and need to be monitored properly. The hard-working and dedicated men and women who monitor these are other people in vulnerable positions are known as telemetry nurses.
Duties
One of the most important jobs of a telemetry nurse is to monitor a patient’s vitals. These include things like heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. The machines that they will use to do this are specialized machines. These machines are made to monitor all of a person’s vitals. This machinery requires specialized training. Other duties include administering medication and talking with patients. Since telemetry nurses usually have to explain complex and, sometimes, life-changing information to a patient, they are required to have excellent knowledge and good communication skills.
Like most nurses, telemetry nurses may have to work long shifts on nights, weekends, and holidays.
Specialized Patients
The patients that a telemetry nurse care for are high-risk patients and patients with chronic conditions. These are patients that have a higher chance of experiencing a problem. The nurse must be prepared to handle a number of things that could go wrong while the patient is in their care. Generally, telemetry nurses care for people who have just gotten out of the intensive care unit, diabetes, gastrointestinal conditions, heart attacks, and other heart conditions. These patients are put into special areas of the hospital. These areas can be called telemetry units, intermediate care units, direct observation units, step-down units, or transitional care units. These units are equip to offer the specialize monitoring that these patients need.
Training
To be a TELEMETRY NURSE, a person must have an RN at the very least. Generally, they will get a certification to be a Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN). In order to get this certification,they will also have to have 1750 hours of clinical work with at-risk patients in two years, according to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. There will also be two tests that focus on medical judgement and ethics questions. The certification must be renewed every three years. Most hospitals will require candidates to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Advanced degrees are welcome. Some nurses make a point to specialize in cardiac care.
Salary
If you’re considering a job in this field, you may be curious as to how much you can make. The median salary for a telemetry nurse is $55,432. For those with higher education who manage to be a telemetry unit manager, the median salary is $112,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When you have patients who require more attention than others and who are likely to run into a problem, you need a nurse who is trained for the job. Telemetry nurses are specifically trained to deal with people with serious conditions or people who experienced serious injuries. Patients with specialized needs should have caretakers who were trained in this specialized care. They are also ready to assist with any complications in a calm, quick, and effective manner.
Related Resource: How to Specialize a Nursing Degree in Neurology
If you’re considering a career in telemetry nursing, you will truly be saving people’s lives.
