Should a student nurse take ACLS?

Specialties Cardiac

Published

  1. Should a student nurse take ACLS?

    • 7
      Absolutely!
    • 1
      Only if they've covered the material in class
    • 2
      Probably not
    • 3
      Nope
    • 0
      Don't care

13 members have participated

Hey guys, not sure if this topic belongs here but thought I'd ask anyway.

I'm currently between semesters in nursing school, and I start my 5th and final semester in two weeks (on my birthday, as my luck would have it) and I was thinking of getting ACLS certification during my break.

We covered cardiac this past semester, including code management so the material will not be totally foreign, and I have a good grasp on interpreting ECG rhythms as well as what interventions are appropriate for the various dysrhythmias.

The reason I want to get this certification is because I eventually plan to work in critical care (hopefully cardiac related) and I will need the certification anyway, plus I feel that having the certification when I graduate will help my applications stand out from other new grads. Besides the employment prospects, this coming semester is largely based in critical care (I will have a critical care clinical plus I will be precepting in critical care) and I feel like it will help me in those areas this summer.

Just thought I'd ask before I dropped the $200 on the class and see what you guys think!

Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU.

I got mine over spring break and I graduate in August. While it may not help getting a job, it doesn't hurt. If you have the money and time to invest into it then get it.

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Being ACLS qualified can only make you more competitive in the job market. Especially, if you are interested in critical care. I would look very favorably on you if I was still in a hiring position.

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Specializes in Quality, Cardiac Stepdown, MICU.

Absolutely. You can't pass ACLS unless you have a good grip on rhythms. (Study study study beforehand.) My whole nursing class got together and got the school to do it for them the last semester; I so wish I had done it, but I had to work those days. If you know you want to work telemetry or higher, definitely do it.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

It's only useful after you have done the basics in class. You won't be able to really use it until after you've gotten a license that allows you to. If you have the money, and you've done the basic cardiology stuff (you know the rhythms) and you're about a semester away from graduation, then you could go for it.

I renewed my ACLS last Summer, and I found the information to be quite useful. Note that I said "renewed." I've been a Paramedic and that license is still active. I did the one day class. My advice for people is to take the 2 day version if you've never done ACLS before. I would also advise NOT doing the online certification for first-time ACLS takers because passing the Megacode skills check is almost impossible to do if you've never had any practice doing one first. That's one of the things done in the 2 days course.

Why schedule it toward the end of school? It sets you up for recertification nicely (and for CE) when it expires a few months before you have to renew your license. Otherwise it can get a bit out of sync and not be very easy for you to remember to recertify ACLS and/or apply that CE to your license renewal.

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Specializes in EP/Cath Lab, E.R. I.C.U, and IVR.

I teach to ACLS to a group of fourth year nursing students every spring. These studnets usually do a great job and have so much fresh knowledge in their heads that they do very well. It is not going to hurt to have ACLS. Just be sure that you feel comfortable in a critical settings such as an ED or an ICU. If you do not it will be more challenging for you.

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Specializes in Quality, Cardiac Stepdown, MICU.
It sets you up for recertification nicely (and for CE) when it expires a few months before you have to renew your license. Otherwise it can get a bit out of sync and not be very easy for you to remember to recertify ACLS and/or apply that CE to your license renewal.

Do states still give CEUs for ACLS renewal? Florida doesn't anymore, just the initial, even if you take the darn 8-hour in-person renewal class.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

I was thinking of doing it before I graduated as well but it's really not going to help your chances of finding a job and it's really expensive. I waited until after I got hired and my place of employment paid for it.

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I'm thinking if you don't use it.. you lose it.

A future employer should provide the certification for you. They are aware you had not used the certification.

I applaud your ambition. Good luck, let us know what you decide.

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I took it over winter break before my last semester and did fine. If you can do it, go ahead. I'm not sure whether it helped my job search, but it shows initiative.

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It's a waste of time and money unless you have the experience to back it up.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

It's fine to learn the rhythms and algorithms, Hs and Ts and all the research being done in resuscitation science.

Just to be clear, know that until you are licensed, you can not administer the meds or shocks. You can do CPR and record.

The AHA guidelines are revised every five years, so you may want to retake ACLS next year through your employer in order to be up to date with the 2015 guidelines.

If you are anywhere near Philadelphia, I highly recommend the University of Pennsylvania Center for Resuscitation Science 3 day seminar on Therapeutic Hypothermia post cardiac arrest.

A passion for learning is a great quality for a new nurse. It would make your application stand out. Good for you!

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