Registered Nurse - Telemetry

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Education: Accredited school of Nursing (Diploma, AD or BSN)
• Licensure: RN with a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
• Certifications: Must have Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is desirable. Basic dysrhythmia course with certificate required.
• Experience: One (1) year full time experience within the last 3 years in Caring for Adult patients in an Acute Care telemetry Setting with cardiac monitoring.

Task and Responsibilities:

• Possess knowledge of telemetry system/ECG monitoring and possess ability to place ECG electrodes, , and record telemetry data to interpret EKG rhythm. Communicate cardiac rhythm changes and information on monitored patients with physician and interdisciplinary team.
• Obtain analyze and post rhythm strips on admission in patient records per unit protocol or as ordered by physician. Successfully interpret rhythm strips to include rate (atrial and ventricular), rhythm, PR interval, QRS interval, QT interval, ectopic beats, and ST segment changes and report abnormalities to provider.
• Identify life threatening dysrhythmias and take immediate action by alerting responsible provider, if necessary, call the emergency cardiac response team.
• Monitor continuous pulse oximetry, assess and record findings as ordered and notify provider of baseline changes. Record more frequently in accordance with RRT, Code Blue or acute changes in patient status.
• Notify provider when changes in the monitoring parameters are required for a particular patient and successfully change electrodes placement and batteries when required.
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology of the heart and conduction system, to include location and function of organs and structures.
• Ensure compliance and understanding of unit and hospital SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) related to Telemetry protocols.
• Able to STAT” judgement and decision calls in regard to patients experiencing life- threatening of potentially life-threatening dysrhythmias and immediately notify provider.
• Analyze temporary pacemaker function for failure to sense, failure to pace, and failure to capture and immediately report these life-threatening incidents to provider.
• Demonstrate ability to care for surgical cardiac patients post catheterization, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), thoracotomy, and other procedures requiring chest tubes and other drainage management.
• Successfully administer intravenous cardiac/antiarrhythmic drugs and other approved telemetry medication therapy IAW policy and procedure.
• Participate in unit skills fairs, education and training to ensure compliance with unit, hospital, JC protocols.