What does a telemetry nurse do?
A telemetry nurse cares for patients with heart conditions and high blood pressure as well as patients who have a history of stroke, heart attack, angina and heart failure. By providing continuous monitoring and coordinating the activities of other staff, telemetry nurses can raise the quality of care that your hospital provides to cardiac patients. Telemetry nurses also help patients better understand their heart conditions and fully explain doctors’ instructions to increase compliance and improve overall medical outcomes. During medical crises, prompt care delivered by telemetry nurses can lower the likelihood of fatality.
Telemetry nurse skills and qualifications
Prospective telemetry nurses with a specific set of skills are more likely to succeed in their roles. The following qualifications are assets for candidates:
- High-level knowledge of cardiac medicine
- Proficiency at operating EKG equipment and interpreting EKGs
- Strong oral communication skills to interact effectively with patients, physicians and other staff
- Leadership skills to direct the efforts of other staff and provide effective coaching
- Knowledge of health information software used to maintain patient records
- Multitasking ability to monitor and care for multiple patients at once
- Crisis management skills to respond to emergencies calmly and professionally
- Thorough understanding of infection control, privacy laws and health and safety regulations
Telemetry nurse experience requirements
To succeed in telemetry nurse careers, candidates need at least three to five years of experience working as a registered nurse. You may wish to prioritize candidates who have worked primarily with cardiac patients, as their experience is more likely to be directly related to telemetry nurse job duties and responsibilities. If your hospital’s staffing needs require a new hire to begin working independently soon after onboarding, candidates who previously worked as telemetry nurses at other hospitals may be the best fit.
Telemetry nurse education and training requirements
A telemetry nurse must hold a valid state-issued registered nursing license. To obtain one, prospective nurses must complete an approved associate or bachelor’s degree program in nursing and pass a written examination. In addition, telemetry nurses usually must hold an additional certification, such as Critical Care Nursing (CCRN) credentials or Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN). The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) grants these designations to registered nurses who have a minimum number of hours of related work experience and successfully complete a written examination.
Telemetry nurse salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a telemetry nurse is $23,846 per year. How much an individual nurse makes depends on their geographic location, experience, education and certification.
Telemetry nurse salary expectations
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Common salary:
2100.24 WEEKLY -
Typical salaries range from
1000.00 -3300.00 WEEKLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
If the telemetry nurse job duties outlined above don’t match the needs of your hospital, explore the details of these related job descriptions:
Telemetry nurse job description FAQs
Who reports to a telemetry nurse?
In most hospitals, many staff members who provide direct patient care to cardiac patients report to the telemetry nurse. This includes other registered nurses and nursing assistants as well as telemetry technicians and medical technologists who administer EKGs and other types of diagnostic tests within the unit.
Who does a telemetry nurse report to?
Often, a telemetry nurse reports to a nurse manager. Large hospitals often employ multiple telemetry nurses who all share the same supervisor. In smaller hospitals, a nurse manager may be responsible for supervising the telemetry unit’s staff and nurses working in other areas of the hospital.
What is the difference between a telemetry nurse and a critical care nurse?
Both telemetry nurses and critical care nurses provide advanced monitoring for patients who require close supervision while hospitalized. The primary difference is the type of care they usually provide. Telemetry nurses normally care for patients who only need monitoring via EKG and work in step-down units where patients go once their condition has stabilized. Critical care nurses use more intensive equipment, such as ventilators and arterial pressure monitors, to care for patients who are not yet stable and at greater risk of needing life-saving interventions.
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