BLS vs. CPR/AED??

[eyoliver]

I feel silly asking this, but I honestly do not know...

What is the difference between BLS and CPR/AED for the healthcare professional? I am a new graduate, and my nursing school required us to have CPR/AED, so that is what I have. However, I see most job descriptions looking for a BLS.

When I went to register for a BLS course, it was listed as BLS/CPR for healthcare professional.

So do I need to take a BLS course, or is my CPR/AED enough? If employers are specifically looking for BLS, should I just go ahead and get it?

[amandakash]

I'm enrolled in a Red Cross CPR for healthcare professionals class for my nursing program. The cert. is good for two years and it costs $80. The AHA BLS for healthcare professionals isn't as readily offered in my area. Our program will take any CPR for healthcare professionals cert. and we do clinicals in several hospitals throughout the state so I'm not sure why a hospital would prefer AHA over Red Cross.

[foreverLaur]

BLS for Healthcare Providers through AHA includes AED and choking as well as CPR.

[Jenni811, RN]

BLS stands for basic life support. It includes CPR/AED/Choking for adults/infants/children. So BLS is more broad and is what is usually required in hospitals. Some hospitals require BLS or CPR certification from different organizations. The two larges is American Red Cross and American Heart Association.

My hospital requires the American Heart Association. It's good for 2 years, and trainer comes in every 2 years and we go over up to date things in CPR/AED/Choking. They are always changing how to do CPR and the correct way, so its a refresher course and a way of getting latest up to date practice.