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  1. Jun 25, '06 by MistyDawnRN06
    Hey all!

    I'm a recent grad, passed boards, and hired into an SICU. The training program seems a bit backward. I'm working with my preceptor for 3 month, which means I'll be on my own in August. The hospital isn't planning to put me into EKG training until August and won't ACLS certify me or put me in a critical care course for a year. Totally flipping backwards right?!

    Anyway I was wondering if anyone had done an online EKG course? If so, which one and would you recommend it? How about ACLS?

    Many thanks!!!!!

    I want to cover my butt since I have a license to protect. If my hospital won't train me in a timely fashion, I'll find a way to do it myself!!

    Thanks again!
    Misty Dawn

  2. 15 Comments so far...

  3. Jun 25, '06 by pickledpepperRN
    I think you could learn basic rhythms from an on line class.
    ACLS is only a two day class but you need to know your rhythms first. You have to demonstrate competency. Call the AHA.

    Mark has a great site:
    http://www.icufaqs.org/

    They're sure backwards. Maybe they want you to learn on your own.
    How can they allow you to work in SICU without ACLS?
    notsosupernurse likes this.
  4. Jun 25, '06 by MistyDawnRN06
    Tell me about it!! I talked to my educator about it at work and she just sort of brushed things off and said that's the way it is here. The funny thing is there is an EKG class scheduled in August that I can attend, and there is an ACLS class in October, but they don't want to put me in ACLS for a year!!!! How can I competently work in an ICU without rhythms and ACLS?

    Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. I'm looking for an online EKG course.

    Thanks!
  5. Jun 26, '06 by grambograham
    I self-taught rhythms.... they are pretty simple. I am slowly learning the ACLS algorhythms. I think that they don't want to overwhelm you as ACLS is actually, as far as my experience goes, a small portion of the job. I will be attending codes to help my learning but will not take a lead role until I have taken and passed ACLS.
  6. Jun 26, '06 by twiceaslucky
    This is so funny I just posted a thread on the CCU board complaining about this very thing. My manager just hired 4 more new grads and we have a similar police re:not ACLS certified for one yeat, not IABP certified for one year.

    I agree it should be changed. I'm not saying you should be running house codes, but what's the harm in going to the class?
  7. Jun 27, '06 by Surgical Hrt RN
    Quote from MistyDawnRN06
    Tell me about it!! I talked to my educator about it at work and she just sort of brushed things off and said that's the way it is here. The funny thing is there is an EKG class scheduled in August that I can attend, and there is an ACLS class in October, but they don't want to put me in ACLS for a year!!!! How can I competently work in an ICU without rhythms and ACLS?

    Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. I'm looking for an online EKG course.

    Thanks!
    MistyDawn,

    How in the world can they expect you to work in an ICU without EKG certification? Legally, you should not be documenting strips without the certification. JCAHO would flip over something like this and a lawyer would have a field day with it. Can you imagine this coming up in court.......Can you explain why you documented this strip as sinus tachycardia when it is clearly supraventricular tachycardia? Why was the doctor not notified?

    Answer........uhhhhhhh I thought it was sinus tachycardia? This is a serious problem, and after all the years of being a critical care nurse.....when in doubt about a strip or anything else I always ask someone else for their opinion.

    As for the one year before ACLS, to me I think that is reasonable. It will take you at least that long to become comfortable with medications, rhythms, and code situations. ACLS can be difficult the first time around. No need to rush things, observe codes, pick brains and study, study, study.

    YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!umpiron:
  8. Jun 27, '06 by dorimar
    I wouldn't want to work in a unit like that. There are many other places out there who will better prepare you. Or, you can get on the stick yourself and by some books or take the AACN ciritical care cours on line (ECCO I bleieve its called). I have never heard of such ridiculousness of not even a critical care course for a year. Even if you want to teach yourself, a unit that doesn't conssider that knowledge a priority is likely to ba a scary place.
  9. Jun 30, '06 by Gigglesforall
    I completely understand the frustration, as I'm in the same boat! I started as a new grad in an SICU last July and am STILL not ACLS certified. I did EKG about 90 days into orientation and they wanted to wait about six months for us new grads to do ACLS, which would have been in January. Apparently classes have been "all full" and here it is a full year later and I am not ACLS certified! I feel incompetent as an ICU nurse! It's disconcerting to be transporting an unstable patient to Radiology, etc. and not know what to do if they code right there in the elevator. This is only the beginning of quality problems at my hospital, which is why I'm scoping out new hospitals. Ugh.
  10. Jul 1, '06 by HYTIIDE
    Hi Everyone,
    I am a new grad RN, just passed the boards. My husband is an ICU RN and the 6week orientation included ACLS AND CCRN course. I hope the hospital I plan on working ICU at will do the same for me, ya'all got me wondering. My husband works at Kaiser(awsome), I on the other hand am trying to stay close to home 10 mins away, for emergency's we have a 4 and 5 year old. Anyway, buy yourself a ACLS book and take the darn class yourself, to heck with the hospital, this is YOUR butt on the line! Boy, I sure know what i'll be asking in the next interview, THANK YOU for the heads up.
    Here is an awsome websit I found while craming for the boards,
    www.skillstat.com/flash/ecgsim531.html I know it helped me alot to read and understand ekg's and I know I'll be working with it alot more now!
    Take care,
    April
    notsosupernurse, Career#24me, Ivanna_Nurse, and 1 other like this.
  11. Jul 2, '06 by dfk
    hey misty.. my two cents - -

    some units/hospitals do their training differently blah blah blah.. perhaps u might have know this upon interview?.. or whatever.. doesn't matter.. basic rhythms (v-fib/v-tach are the most important ones), and recognizing ectopy is important.. a-fib and flutter too.. when u get comfortable, know the acls logs.. that will give u all u need to know.. i wouldn't worry about it.. take it into ur own hands if u have to.. i am of the same thinking that i can't wait for others.. be prepared.. so, when it comes time for class, all will look to u for help.. and that's a great feeling.. take an online as well, but remember, immediate feedback and clarification is sometimes difficult.. you can also find all kinds of rhythyms and examples online without paying for anything.. check out any ekg/ecg website.. for example : http://medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/

    u'll do fine.. just practice, practice, practice, and impress ur bosses.. they may advance ur training after such..
    enjoy - -
    Career#24me and dijaqrn like this.