You will work with critically ill patients as a telemetry nurse. The main responsibilities of a telemetry nurse are to connect and monitor machines that track vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure. He or she also interprets the data from these machines so that the patient’s condition can be assessed by the medical team.
You’ll be at the cutting edge of advanced medicine and patient care with this nursing specialty. Telemetry nurses’ work is an important part of the patient’s overall care and healing. The majority of telemetry nurses work in the Progressive Care Unit of a hospital.
To work as a telemetry nurse, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree, which in the United States is usually the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). You will take math and science courses, such as anatomy, chemistry, biology, psychology, and nutrition, to complete the requirements for this degree. Before graduating, most undergraduate nursing programs require clinical internships in hospitals or other health care facilities.
To become a licensed registered nurse (RN) in the United States, you must pass the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) after graduation. Beyond the NCLEX exam, some states have additional licensing requirements. Before you can practice nursing and work in that state, you must also meet these requirements.
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) establishes national standards for the transition from registered nurse to telemetry nurse. The Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) exam is administered by the AACN Certification Corporation, and it is taken by RNs to meet the certification requirements for this nursing specialty. The PCCN exam covers a variety of specialties, including telemetry.
To take the exam, you must have a current RN license and 1,750 hours of bedside nursing experience with acute or critically ill patients within the previous two years. During the year leading up to your exam, you must have worked at least 875 hours. RNs who have met this requirement in health care facilities in the United States and Canada are eligible.
RNs with work experience in foreign facilities that meet the US standard of nursing practice for this specialty can also apply for certification through AACN. These institutions must have AACN Magnet Status or Joint Commission International accreditation. Candidates for telemetry nurse certification register for the exam and pay the exam fees through the AACN online portal. Candidates can prepare for the telemetry certification exam by using exam review courses, study guides, sample questions, and advice from currently certified nurses.