A telemetry nurse is a healthcare professional who reads electrocardiogram equipment, also known as heart monitors. He or she generally works with patients with heart problems in a hospital or clinical care environment. Telemetry nurses are responsible for constantly observing the readings of electrocardiograph machines that monitor the heart rhythms of patients and notifying doctors if emergencies arise.

Many cardiac patients are moved to the telemetry unit of a hospital or clinic after they have recovered from heart attacks or cardiac surgeries. Patients who are in telemetry units are in critical condition and need constant care. A telemetry nurse typically is responsible for a set number of patients, usually around five. He or she gives out medications, checks to make sure heart monitors are working properly, and talks with patients to make sure their conditions are not getting worse.

Since a telemetry nurse works with heart patients primarily, he or she usually has specialized nursing education. Telemetry nurses are generally certified in cardiac telemetry, so they can understand the readings of electrocardiogram equipment which measures blood pressure, blood-oxygen levels, and heart and breathing rates. The reading are sent to a computer station so nurses can oversee various patient results all at once. Telemetry nurses also are educated in properly supervising and caring for patients with serious heart conditions, such as cardiac arrhythmias, in which the heart doesn’t pump normally and can result in sudden death.

Many telemetry nurses have an additional certification in critical care nursing, so they can be prepared to deal compassionately with patients who have been recently moved from the intensive care unit. Patients may tend to relay their questions and concerns to nurses since nurses are typically the ones providing constant care for patients, rather than doctors or surgeons. Nurses need to be familiar with a patient’s medical history so they can ensure the patient is receiving the right care, as well as be knowledgeable enough to answer medical questions for patients. Since nurses often administer pain medication, they need to be able to assess patient symptoms in order to determine the correct dosage.

The ability to communicate with patients is helpful in the telemetry nursing field. Telemetry nursing generally requires both medical and interpersonal skills. Since telemetry patients are usually recovering from life-threatening procedures, both they and their families may be scared, so nurses are the ones to attempt to ease their concerns. A telemetry nurse may also educate patients and their families about lifestyle changes to implement when they check out of the hospital, such as healthy diet or exercise plans, to prevent disease or worsening of conditions.