My hospital is requiring me to take a telemetry course and I'm really nervous about it! They want everyone to be proficient in reading tel strips. Has anyone ever had to take one of these? Give me an idea what I'm up against - looking at data all day really isn't my thing or something that I've ever been good at. I'm nervous!

I agree with RNdude. I had to take a 2 day telemetry certification course as a new nurse, and I was pertrified. It is logical and learnable. Some of that depends on the quality of the educational course you get. Unless you work as the tele tech, you won't be looking at date all day long. As the nurse, you'll check several times a day, and if an alarm sounds. Once you learn telemetry, you probably won't want to take patients off tele, because when your patients are on tele, you know immediately if something begins to go wrong,and you can intervene. Don't be afraid; it's just facts to learn with accompanying interventions. It increases your nursing knowlege, and makes you more marketable, as well as bettere equipped to meet the needs of your patients. It's a good thing. Don't hesitate to stop and ask questions in class.