Med Surg Nursing Care of Patient on
Telemetry
1. Nurses working on telemetry units receive training in.... - ANS-12 lead EKG, basic
dysrhythmias, ACLS, and directed at care of the medical, surgical, or other patient
populations the unit provides for.
2. What are various indications that could warrant 24 hour telemetry? - ANS-Ruling out
myocardial infarction, unstable BP, implantation of an automatic defibrillator lead or a
pacemaker lead, uncomplicated ablation or an arrhythmia, or major surgery.
3. What are various indications that could warrant a 48 hour telemetry? - ANS-Acute
myocardial infarction, acute and subacute congestive heart failure, thoracic surgery,
acute stroke, complex major surgery
4. What duties does a specially trained EKG tech have in regards to monitoring? -
ANS-These techs will send telemetry reports to the nursing staff every 4 hours. Also,
these techs will immediately call the nursing unit when there is a significant change in
cardiac rhythm on a patient.
5. What is pulse deficit? - ANS-The difference between apical pulse and the radial pulse
6. What is telemetry? - ANS-Continual observation of the heart's electrical activity used to
identify abnormalities in rate, rhythm and conduction. It is also used to evaluate
pacemaker function and responses to various cardiac medications.
7. What mechanical processes does telemetry monitoring use? - ANS-Leads are attached
to a portable monitor transmitter that sends the electrical signals to a central monitor.
This allows patients more freedom of movement.
8. What might you find at the nursing station that monitors telemetry? - ANS-A 'slave'
cardiac monitor, which each nurse can immediately see their patient's cardiac rhythm or
changes in rhythm
9. What two assessment strategies should the nurse use when assessing a heart? -
ANS-Auscultation and palpation. While auscultation the apical pulse, the nurse should
palpate the radial pulse.
10. What would be indicated if a patient is experiencing a pulse deficit? - ANS-An arrhythmia
such as atrial fib (AF), multifocal PACs or PVCs
11. Where would you place the black lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-Upper left chest
12. Where would you place the brown lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-In the center of
the chest
13. Where would you place the green lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-Right lower chest
14. Where would you place the red lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-Left lower chest
15. Where would you place the white lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-Upper right chest
16. Who and where is continuous monitoring done by? - ANS-A specially trained EKG
technician in a central location of the hospital
Telemetry
1. Nurses working on telemetry units receive training in.... - ANS-12 lead EKG, basic
dysrhythmias, ACLS, and directed at care of the medical, surgical, or other patient
populations the unit provides for.
2. What are various indications that could warrant 24 hour telemetry? - ANS-Ruling out
myocardial infarction, unstable BP, implantation of an automatic defibrillator lead or a
pacemaker lead, uncomplicated ablation or an arrhythmia, or major surgery.
3. What are various indications that could warrant a 48 hour telemetry? - ANS-Acute
myocardial infarction, acute and subacute congestive heart failure, thoracic surgery,
acute stroke, complex major surgery
4. What duties does a specially trained EKG tech have in regards to monitoring? -
ANS-These techs will send telemetry reports to the nursing staff every 4 hours. Also,
these techs will immediately call the nursing unit when there is a significant change in
cardiac rhythm on a patient.
5. What is pulse deficit? - ANS-The difference between apical pulse and the radial pulse
6. What is telemetry? - ANS-Continual observation of the heart's electrical activity used to
identify abnormalities in rate, rhythm and conduction. It is also used to evaluate
pacemaker function and responses to various cardiac medications.
7. What mechanical processes does telemetry monitoring use? - ANS-Leads are attached
to a portable monitor transmitter that sends the electrical signals to a central monitor.
This allows patients more freedom of movement.
8. What might you find at the nursing station that monitors telemetry? - ANS-A 'slave'
cardiac monitor, which each nurse can immediately see their patient's cardiac rhythm or
changes in rhythm
9. What two assessment strategies should the nurse use when assessing a heart? -
ANS-Auscultation and palpation. While auscultation the apical pulse, the nurse should
palpate the radial pulse.
10. What would be indicated if a patient is experiencing a pulse deficit? - ANS-An arrhythmia
such as atrial fib (AF), multifocal PACs or PVCs
11. Where would you place the black lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-Upper left chest
12. Where would you place the brown lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-In the center of
the chest
13. Where would you place the green lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-Right lower chest
14. Where would you place the red lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-Left lower chest
15. Where would you place the white lead of an electrical monitor? - ANS-Upper right chest
16. Who and where is continuous monitoring done by? - ANS-A specially trained EKG
technician in a central location of the hospital
