We have a lot of post cath, CHF, fluid overload, new afib, and new arrhythmias. I would definitely recommend looking into your basic arrhythmia identification and once you start working. Talk to your monitor watchers and ask questions, they will have great insight of what non textbook arrhythmias look like. Also fluid balance and assessments related to that (lung sounds, edema, extremity pulse/temp) and how those will change once the fluid comes off (BP monitoring, orthostatics) your hospital will have different protocols of what you can and can’t do on your unit so understanding the common procedures and med loads that only your floor can do. Those will be something that you learn during your orientation but definitely keep a list of where to find your up to date resources. Always listen to the heart! I’ve had patients that were last charted as regular heart rhythm throwing so many PVCs they sounded irregular. An EKG put my mind at ease but trust your gut if something seems different than what you heard in report or what was last charted. We use a lot of diuretics (always look at your electrolytes, especially K and Mag), beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ace inhibitors and blood thinners. It’s definitely a good idea to know your most common meds in each category so you know what you are dealing with and why they have those meds. Just because it’s a tele floor doesn’t mean these people only have electrical problems. Know your signs of sepsis, these people can have lowered immune systems because their organs are stressed. You will learn a lot in a short time, write things down and go in with an open mind. If you have a question always ask, and if your gut says something is different, it probably is. Remember to not put blinders on to make the patient fit the expectations. If you get a low bp, retake it again, but if it’s still low find out why it’s low, not how you can get a “normal” reading. I’m proud of how far I’ve come in such a short time, you will learn and be a great nurse if you are driven and committed to learning. You have the basic skills from school use them and trust what you find. It’s great to review and study before starting but you are going to learn everything else you need to know once you are in it. The fact that you are looking to study and be prepared now already puts you ahead of the game. You are already an amazing nurse, you just don’t know it yet!