Telemetry nurses monitor and interpret vital signs of acute patients using machines. To become a telemetry nurse, one must complete a BSN, pass the NCLEX exam, and take the PCCN exam. 1,750 hours of nursing experience is required to qualify for the PCCN exam. Certification is available for foreign nurses who meet US standards.
When you become a telemetry nurse, you work with acute patients. A telemetry nurse’s main duties are connecting and monitoring machines that track vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. He or she also interprets the readings from these machines so that the healthcare team can assess the patient’s condition.
This nursing specialty puts you at the forefront of advanced medicine and patient care. The work that telemetry nurses perform is a vital part of the spectrum of patient care and healing. Typically, most telemetry nurses work in the Progressive Care Unit of a hospital.
To become a telemetry nurse, you first need to complete a bachelor’s degree, usually the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in the United States. To meet the requirements for this degree, you will complete math and science courses, including anatomy, chemistry, biology, psychology, and nutrition. Most undergraduate nursing programs also require clinical internships in hospitals or other healthcare facilities prior to graduation.
After graduation, you must take the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) to become a Registered Nurse (RN) in the US. Some states have additional licensing requirements beyond the NCLEX exam. You must know them as well before you can practice nursing and work in this state.
The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) sets the national guidelines for the path from RN to nurse telemetry. The AACN Certification Corporation administers the Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) exam that RNs take to meet certification requirements for this nursing specialty. Telemetry is one of several specialties that fall under the PCCN exam.
To qualify for the exam, you must have a valid RN license and 1,750 hours of nursing experience working with acutely or critically ill patients in the two years prior to your application. You must have worked at least 875 hours during the year prior to your exam. Nurses who meet this requirement in the United States and Canadian health centers qualify.
AACN also accepts applications for certification from registered nurses who have gained their work experience in foreign facilities that meet US standards of nursing practice for this specialty. These institutions must have AACN Magnet Status or Joint Commission International accreditation. Telemetry nursing certification candidates register to take the exam and pay fees through the AACN online portal. Exam review courses, study guides, sample questions, and advice from currently certified nurses help candidates prepare to pass the telemetry certification exam.
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