BLS or ACLS certification for new grad

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  1. This is a discussion on BLS or ACLS certification for new grad in Arizona Nursing, part of United States Nursing ... Hi all you nurses out there. I just graduated nursing school, and I want to be adequately certified...

    by Jan 25, '11
    Hi all you nurses out there. I just graduated nursing school, and I want to be adequately certified to apply for any jobs that may miraculously pop up. I am somewhat confused as to whether or not I need BLS certification for health care provider, or ACLS (I'm not interested in ER, ICU or CCU, as if I even have any options but you get what I mean). The BLS I believe is about $55.00, but the ACLS is over $250.00, so I don't want to take it if the place I eventually get hired at will pay for me to take it. Also, does anyone know of a good company/organization that does the BLS and/or ACLS certifications? I'm having a hard time finding one.
    Please and thank you
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    by salimom Jan 25, '11 8:57 pm
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    JourneyRN likes this.
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  3. 20 Comments so far...

  4. Jan 26, '11 by
    Did your nursing school not have a requirement that you be BLS certified while a student??? I was under the impression that every nursing student needed to keep current on their BLS while doing clinicals. If so, did yours just expire?

    Anyway, back to the question...that depends I would say. First, you HAVE to keep current BLS for HC providers at all times...even physicians have to renew every 2 years. If you find yourself unemployed with nothing to do, take ACLS as well, because that certification may just land you a job! But you are right, many employers will pay for your ACLS; mine is :-) Of course, you got to get the job first, tho! Good luck :-)
  5. Jan 26, '11 by
    I think I did ProCpr.org last time for healthcare provider BLS, all online, $29.
  6. Jan 26, '11 by
    I'm surprised you're not already BLS certified as a prerequisite of your nursing program.

    If you're not already, you definitely should be. I would not do ACLS - if you're hired into a unit that requires it, your facility will pay for it for you.

    Make sure your certification is through AHA. There is no such thing as a 100%-online BLS course that's approved by AHA. AHA requires that you do an in-person skills checkoff (although you can do the book portion online). Many/most facilities will not accept your BLS certification unless it's through AHA.
  7. Jan 26, '11 by
    That's a good question klone re: accreditation. There may be no such thing as an AHA approved CPR course. Hard to know who to believe when it comes to advertising. My company ok's ProCPR and reimburses us but I don't work in a hospital either.

    Here's what ProCPR says...

    http://www.procpr.org/en/nationally_recognized

    Who Approves CPR Certification?

    ProCPR is an accredited program that satisfies the requirements for CPR training according to the latest ECC/ILCOR and the American Heart Association guidelines.

    The American Heart Association is the United States’ representative of ILCOR and cannot approve, endorse, or give accreditation for CPR training for any other organization. They simply publish their own CPR courses and materials for training just like ProCPR and the Red Cross do.

    No organization exists that provides a national endorsement or approval. So each CPR certification provider is free to construct their own curriculum and teaching strategies based on the ECC/ILCOR guidelines. Every business, agency or individual can freely choose to accept ProCPR.
  8. Jan 26, '11 by
    Maybe I shouldn't have said "approved by" AHA. Maybe I just should have said "done by AHA." Many facilities require that the certification be THROUGH the AHA, and won't take other certifications.
  9. Jan 27, '11 by
    Quote from klone
    Maybe I shouldn't have said "approved by" AHA. Maybe I just should have said "done by AHA." Many facilities require that the certification be THROUGH the AHA, and won't take other certifications.
    I concur w klone. I have never worked at a hospital that allowed a program
    that was not AHA approved. You need CPR for health care providers. I would
    not bother w ACLS as a new grad unless you have a complete understanding
    of heart rhythms. You need to know much more than what they teach in
    nursing school on arrhythmias.

    Let your new job pick up the tab if you need ACLS.
    CCL RN likes this.
  10. Jan 27, '11 by
    Thanks so much for your responses, saved me a couple of hundred dollars! I was CPR/BLS certified at the beginning of school, but it expired last month and I figured if I needed to upgrade to ACLS I would do it now. Thanks again!
  11. Jan 28, '11 by
    Just to throw in my 2 cents....
    I am an unemployed new grad (since June 2010) and can't find work. I am going ahead and getting my PALS (Pediatric Advances Life Support) through PCH in the hopes that it will give me the extra edge in the job market. Cost is $180 + book. Yes, it would be nice for an employer to pay for it, but they aren't exactly lining up to do that now are they? Again, just my 2 cents....
  12. Jan 28, '11 by
    I got ACLS and PALS on my own, no one paid for it. It is nice to be able to put it on your resume, hoping that the next time you have to renew, you will be employed by an employer that will pay for the renewal.
    bratmobile likes this.