BLS or CPR/AED

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone, I had just recently passed my nclex-rn, and I was wondering what most hospitals ask for when applying..do they look for the BLS or CPR/AED certificate? I went on the AHA website and saw both courses available, and was wondering which one I should apply for since their course description looks somewhat similar? Is there any advantage over the other? I am also wondering if I should do get my ACLS and PALS, is that a good idea also while looking for a job? Thank you guys!

I'd still like to know if the AHA bls/cpr card has to be renewed each year as some show every 2 on the card and is your card good in all 50 states?

Two years and good everywhere.

If you'll also note it's a suggested renewal date. I sat on one for three years once (instead of two) and renewed it with no questions asked.

Specializes in med surg ltc psych.

Thanks Guy, I'm all set!

Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.
I had one nurse manager tell me that and I let myself be convinced because I wanted to spend the money on a Kindle instead (I got some graduation money from family and went with TOYS instead of professional development). Having ACLS as a new grad has definitely been a benefit to my classmates who went and got it, and for a local new grad program, the ones with ACLS were the ones who got selected to interview in the emergency department.

Having been the new grad who got interviewed (AND HIRED!) in an ED with my ACLS and EMT-B certs on top of my new RN license, I have to second this. If you want to go into some flavor of Critical Care, get your ACLS.

Also, please, make sure you have a good handle on your BLS skills before you take ACLS. As a new grad I ended up as a team leader during test-out because I had a clue about the BLS algorithm and thus how the ACLS stuff fit in with the general flow and had been tested on most of the ACLS algorithm as part of my Crit Care class in nursing school. Know your stuff beforehand and you'll do fine.

Generally ALL hospitals should require many of their employees to be CPR/AED certified (mine requires pretty much any person who has direct patient contact to be certified). From there it depends on what area you work... ACLS should be required for any tele/ICU/er etc setting, PALS for peds/PICU/ER, etc... and NALS for ER/NICU/PICU... it all depends on where you plan to work - I would for sure make sure you have a CPR cert but again most hospitals should pay to put you through that class if you are hired and any other required cert for your clinical area.

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