A nurse floating to a different unit is assigned to a client who requires telemetry monitoring. What characteristic of the client indicates appropriateness for the float nurse?

The characteristic that indicates appropriateness for the float nurse is that the client has a stable arrhythmia. This is important because telemetry monitoring requires the nurse to have a good understanding of the heart rhythms and their implications. A stable arrhythmia suggests that the client’s condition is manageable, meaning the float nurse can provide the necessary care even if they are not fully specialized in the unit’s typical procedures.

In contrast, clients who are undergoing a diagnostic test may not require continuous monitoring and could be better suited for a nurse with specific competencies related to procedural care. A client who just had surgery might be in a more acute state requiring close observation and could benefit more from a nurse familiar with post-operative protocols. Finally, a client in an unstable condition requires immediate and specialized attention that a float nurse may not be fully trained to provide, making it critical that such clients are cared for by regular staff trained in managing unstable patients.