Taking PALS soon...help!

Specialties PICU

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

I am signing up to take PALS at my hospital since I've been cross-training to PICU from NICU. The class is for 2 days from 8-4:30. Does this sound like the average time for this class?

I'm not saying the NRP was easy, but it wasn't this long. Can you give me an idea of what the class is like and any hints on how to study?

I'm sure I'll get the book, but I'm a little nervous about it.

It's about 4 weeks away. I'm glad our hospital is offering it and we get paid for it, too...so if I flunk it, at least I'll get paid for it. LOL;)

Thanks

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

That's exactly how long it takes to do a PALS course. NRP isn't as long because resuscitation of neos is much simpler and more straightforward. There are only a handful of conditions that will be at issue with them where with kids it can be any of about a hundred! (Not trying to scare you, hon!) You can find an overview of the content at http://www.aafp.org/afp/991015ap/1743.html. It's a little dated, since new guidelines came out in 2005, which you can find at http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/112/24_suppl/IV-167. The first site is a little less intimidating so you could read through it without trying to remember specifics, then when you get your training manual you could start memorizing the doses and the algorithms. (Or you could just use the second site...) To help learn the doses, you could make yourself a "code sheet" with the drugs and dose ranges on it, then do the calculations for a variety of different weights. (Write them down!!) I found that enormously helpful. It also helps if you know what the drugs do because that will give you clues as to why they're used when they're used. Another thing that just occurred to me is that you could offer to check the crash cart whenever you work so that you know what's on it, where it is and how it's organized. Then you can start thinking about why each item is on the cart, why and how it would be used and what the expected outcomes will be. There is an expectation that you'll know the stuff before the course, and that the course time will be for practicing/demonstrating resuscitation techniques. How nice that your employer is paying you to take the course, and paying the costs of the course too. Mine won't even ensure that one has time off to attend, never mind pay for any of it. For those same reasons they haven't made it compulsory. That would be why I haven't recertified recently.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Thanks Jan! I wanted t let you know that PICU has been interesting to say the least! The nurses have been good to me and some are encouraging me to stay. For now, I'm working both units...so we'll see what time brings. I actually worked over time for 4 hours in PICU the other night! And I've gone out of my comfort zone and taken care of a 9 yr. old and 13 yr. old...and we all lived through it! lol.

Yes, I agree my employer is good about providing and paying for education. thanks for the websites!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Good for you!! Each time you do it it will get easier. Some of my friends actually work in a float arrangement between NI and PI, going to whichever unit has the greater need at the time. The paperwork is different, the way we mix our drips is different, the mindset is different, and the autonomy is different, but they don't seem to have a lot of difficulty making the shift. Wendy, who started here the same day as me, came from purely neo and she had some growing pains, but now she's perfectly fine with whatever comes her way. You will be too.

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I am sure that you will do just fine. It is usually scarier for the PICU nurses to be floated initially to the NICU, not the other way around.

Just when you get patients that are actually larger than you.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Update: I passed! I strongly recommend this course to any critical care nurse. I learned alot about running codes and dysrhythmias! It was a good class....even if it was LONG! (16 hours)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

:balloons::yelclap: I knew you would!! Way to go... what will you do for an encore?

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Congratulations on passing your PALS course!!! :balloons::balloons::balloons:

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Thanks everyone. No encore yet! LOL. Well, I might take some classes the PICU educator is offering. I also bought a home study on pediatrics. Maybe I'm becoming a PICU nurse after all?! Lately it has been more interesting than our NICU! There were a few funny things in the class...I was suggesting using a butterfly needle for a pneumo on a 4 year old!! oops! I thought they said 4 days old! lol.

Also, one nurse was saying she needed a stiff drink after the class...well, we had a power point that had the word "brandycardia" on it!! I laughed a lot about that typo! Brandycardia must happen when you've had one too many!

Anyway, it was actually a little fun.:lol2:

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Also, one nurse was saying she needed a stiff drink after the class...well, we had a power point that had the word "brandycardia" on it!! I laughed a lot about that typo! Brandycardia must happen when you've had one too many!

Anyway, it was actually a little fun.:lol2:

That's too funny!! I'm going to have to use that one. I frequently find myself caffeinopenic, but I've never had brandycardia...

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