A telemetry nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who specializes in monitoring patients with heart disease and other serious medical conditions using an electrocardiogram (ECG) or other vital sign monitoring technology. They are trained to use and interpret technological devices that monitor the internal functioning and vital signs of a patient, such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rhythms, and respiration. Telemetry nurses work in a wide range of professional settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, outpatient care centers, long-term care spaces, and within patients’ homes. They also administer medication, perform diagnostic tests, assist with surgical procedures, and perform basic life support procedures when necessary. Successful telemetry nurses are clear communicators, attentive to detail, organized, able to manage conflicting patient priorities, and calm during high-intensity situations. To become a telemetry nurse, you must first earn a minimum of an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN), though a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is preferred by most employers. Telemetry nursing is an excellent starting point for a nursing career, providing significant exposure to direct patient care, technology, and even allowing you to test the waters of working in a high-intensity nursing role when patients take a sudden turn for the worse.