ACLS certification

tammieschofield · May 29, 2010

i passed my acls exam recently. one of the docs i work with suggested the acls midnight review. hope this helps. i have a few of acls books and a learning dvd i could sell to you if you are interested.

http://acls.ws

sweetER · May 29, 2010

I am a senior BSN student, and I tried to take ACLS at a local hospital during my 2 week break in May. I paid for the class and even told the lady who signed me up that I was still a student. I got called back later, and they asked if I was a student. I said yes, and they informed me that because I was still a student, I could not take ACLS. They told me it required some sort of license - RN, EMT, etc. and since I had none of those yet, if I took it, it "wouldn't count" and I'd have to take it again after I received licensure.

Otessa, BSN, RN · May 29, 2010

Hey! I'm relatively new to the site, and I have a question for any of you who have gotten/are educated about the ACLS certification.
Basically, I'm a first year ASN student and I'm hoping to get my ACLS certification over the summer before things get crazy again with school next year. I'll be taking some classes, but I should have time to go through the initial certification course. I'm not the brightest person in the world, but I'm not about to downplay myself either.
My question is this: Is it feasible? I have close to zero ECG experience, but I'm willing to study before starting the course. I spoke with an AHA rep the other day, and she informed me that they would educate me on how to read ECGs while at the course, but she is an AHA rep, and they want my money just like anyone else.
Please tell me if you think it's feasible, and let me know if you know of any ECG/pre-ACLS study materials that are out there.
Thanks!
James

Truthfully the ACLS course will NOT teach you how to read an EKG. I have been certified for 18 years and have taught ACLS for several as well. There needs to be a good understanding of the heart blocks, v-tach, v-fib, etc.

CuriousMe · May 29, 2010

I am a senior BSN student, and I tried to take ACLS at a local hospital during my 2 week break in May. I paid for the class and even told the lady who signed me up that I was still a student. I got called back later, and they asked if I was a student. I said yes, and they informed me that because I was still a student, I could not take ACLS. They told me it required some sort of license - RN, EMT, etc. and since I had none of those yet, if I took it, it "wouldn't count" and I'd have to take it again after I received licensure.

Hmmm...I wonder who's requirement that is? After the first year of our (3 year) program, we're encouraged to take ACLS.

It's one of the things that make us more competitive for preceptorship spots in the ED or on a critical care unit.

laynaER · May 29, 2010

Congrats to jamesconner! I'm glad you stuck to your guns, don't let people make you feel bad for doing something you feel is beneficiary to yourself. Now you have an advantage over other people. The job market is tight..extremely tight and a lot of nurses who have been in their jobs for a few years don't really understand how tough it is to land a job so I think you did the right thing. Congrats again.

scoochy · May 29, 2010

To be honest, I do feel like I could run a code. I'm still fresh on it, so that may change.
I'm comfortable with rhythms (at least the ones that are required for the course) and I'm comfortable with the bread and butter pharm.
I'm sure I couldn't run something completely out of the ordinary, but I do feel like I could do it with some degree of confidence. I don't intend on this course being the "end all" to my advanced training, but I hope it gets me in the door of an ICU as a tech so that I can be exposed to this kind of stuff and really let the training sink in.
I'm sorry if you don't agree with that type of thinking, but the job market is very competitive in my area and I'll do what it takes to get where I want to be.

Frankly, I cannot envision a nursing student running a code, nor would you be allowed to do so.

Continue to be self-directed in your quest for knowledge; it's the best thing you can do for yourself.

CuriousMe · May 29, 2010

So, you feel safe to run a code? Because, in my hospital anyhow, that's what being ACLS certified means. Whomever is ACLS certified in the area of the code at the time runs the code until the code team can get there. Sometimes that's seconds, once in a code I was in it was several minutes due to another code (we're a smaller hospital, only one code team). We had to interpret the rhythm, push drugs, and shock without any physician or pharmacist to help. You feel comfortable doing that?
That's what those certifications mean. They aren't a stepping stone to getting a job. They mean that you have that particular advanced knowledge. I hope all you students keep that in mind when you're taking these classes. Don't get me wrong, I wish every nurse who worked the floor took this class. We all should be ACLS certified. But a student? That's a lot of responsibility.

As a student, that's likely a question I wouldn't really know the answer to until it happened. I suspect, confidence would be the biggest hurdle.

After my ACLS class I definitely think I'd be able to participate in a code without being in the way though. Most RN's have their ACLS on the units I'm doing clinicals on, so I think it's unlikely I'd be alone for very long before someone much more experienced than I showed up.

Caffeine_IV · May 30, 2010

To be honest, I do feel like I could run a code. I'm still fresh on it, so that may change.
I'm comfortable with rhythms (at least the ones that are required for the course) and I'm comfortable with the bread and butter pharm.
I'm sure I couldn't run something completely out of the ordinary, but I do feel like I could do it with some degree of confidence. I don't intend on this course being the "end all" to my advanced training, but I hope it gets me in the door of an ICU as a tech so that I can be exposed to this kind of stuff and really let the training sink in.
I'm sorry if you don't agree with that type of thinking, but the job market is very competitive in my area and I'll do what it takes to get where I want to be.

I'm glad you got your ACLS..that's great! Many would not even think of trying for it as a student so you have a lot of drive.

I think you are a little over confident to say you could run a code. I'm not saying that you wouldn't be able to do because I have no idea. A real code is totally different from the controlled scenarios and practice that you get within the class. Best of luck for the future!

Katie5 · May 30, 2010

Where would you be practicing this skill when acquired?

suanna · May 30, 2010

I know I'm pretty late in this thread- but if you are still reading. ACLS (at least in my area) isn't an instructional course. You need to know the material- it is a testing and practice opportunity to make yo more comfortable with the code process. You will be overwhelmed if you can't read rhythm strips well and have never studied the drugs. THE BOOK however is a great resource. I advise every student I talk to to look into buying the ACLS handbook. Short, well organized information in a stem by step format- It will make your critical care rotation a lot more enjoyable.If you get the book- read it through. If yo find you understand the material well- take the course, but don't waste the space in a class if you are expecting to be taught the ACLS material in the 1 or 2 day course.

jwconn1104 · May 30, 2010

I'm glad you got your ACLS..that's great! Many would not even think of trying for it as a student so you have a lot of drive.
I think you are a little over confident to say you could run a code. I'm not saying that you wouldn't be able to do because I have no idea. A real code is totally different from the controlled scenarios and practice that you get within the class. Best of luck for the future!

Oh, I agree completely. I would never WANT to be the individual running a code. I was only responding to the person who asked if I thought I could do it.

Do I believe I COULD do it if I had to? Yes. I believe that I could run a "bread and butter" code with equipment that I was familiarized with.

Do I WANT to? Absolutely not. I'm a nursing student trying to get ahead of the game, not kill people.

jwconn1104 · May 30, 2010

I know I'm pretty late in this thread- but if you are still reading. ACLS (at least in my area) isn't an instructional course. You need to know the material- it is a testing and practice opportunity to make yo more comfortable with the code process. You will be overwhelmed if you can't read rhythm strips well and have never studied the drugs. THE BOOK however is a great resource. I advise every student I talk to to look into buying the ACLS handbook. Short, well organized information in a stem by step format- It will make your critical care rotatio1n a lot more enjoyable.If you get the book- read it through. If yo find you understand the material well- take the course, but don't waste the space in a class if you are expecting to be taught the ACLS material in the 1 or 2 day course.

Agreed! My instructor (thankfully) made that very clear before I attended the course so I prepared on my own.

I took the AHA online course: Learn: Rhythm Adult to learn how to read ECGs with arrhythmias. I then got the book and ran over it for around 20hrs with about 30 pages of notes.

By the time I got to my course, I felt like I knew the material very well. My instructor reinforced information I was solid on, introduced me to the advanced airway equipment, and introduced me to the basic defib equipment. It was great!