ACLS cert.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 23, 2013

Your employer will need to tell you what they deem acceptable...the course is available from a number of sources, but you don't want to waste time and/or money if it's not the "right" one. Ask HR or your nurse manager.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 24, 2013

All the hospitals in my area require AHA because it is the gold standard. Their courses are all evaluated for validity and reliability. Be careful about on-line programs. Some will state they are "based" on AHA, but that does not mean it is an AHA course. Another reason AHA is the standard---they require consistency in how the courses are administered. The card should mean something.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 24, 2013

Every place I've applied to wants AHA-approved courses.

There are some AHA-approved courses online, but like classicdame said, be wary because "based on AHA" and "AHA-approved" are not the same thing. An AHA-approved course will specifically state it is AHA approved. In fact, the best way to find an AHA-approved online course is through the AHA themselves.

In addition, with an online course there should be an in-person component, where you will have to go and demonstrate competency in skills. I'd be very skeptical of any online course without it.

SNB1014, RN · Apr 24, 2013

i wouldnt dare pay for a class that is not AHA ACLS approved.

most employers will not accept it either.

If you want to download a study guide from the internet to help you prepare for an AHA ACLS class, i encourage you. but it is not the same thing.

also, during a code, you need to have everyone working by the same protocol /algorithm. code blues are not the time to get rogue. if a patient does not survive and you are called into the boardroom/ a quality control meeting, you need to know that if nothing else, you followed the protocol of the Holy Grail, AHA ACLS. this is how you defend yourself. this is the only acceptable safe practice and every two years it is reviewed and updated, as needed.

by mandating that all employees who need it take only AHA ACLS, your facility ensures that everyone has the same minimum competency.

don't waste your money on anything else.

yes, the videos can be cheesey and i wish they had more of a troubleshooting component rather than "think back to your Hs & Ts...have you addressed everything?"

but alas, perhaps that will be in the next updated version.

SNB1014, RN · Apr 24, 2013

also, for instance, my position requires that I have a current ACLS cert. they offer it in house at certain times but will reimburse you if you go "outside" the company ONLY if it is AHA

chare · Apr 25, 2013

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) was formed in 1992 to "...provide a forum for liaison between principal resuscitation organizations worldwide." The American Heart Association (AHA) represents the United States as a member organization of ILCOR. In 2000, ILCOR published the first international resuscitation guidelines. These guidelines are updated every five years, with the most recent revision, the 2010 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Science with Treatment Recommendations having been released in October, 2010.

Shortly afterwards, the AHA released the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science. After releasing the the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science, the AHA developed their CPR and ECC programs. While the AHA neither sanctions nor approves other organizations ECC programs, it is a common misconception that they do.

After the release of the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science, other agencies were then free to develop their own CPR and ECC programs based on these guidelines. I am aware of three ACLS courses that have been developed based upon these guidelines, although have never taken any of them.

The eACLS Course was developed by American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The didactic portion is completed on line. For most practicing health care professionals who regularly perform resuscitation, the student's hospital or clinical supervisor completes the clinical skills training verification and current skills competence form for return. For students not regularly involved in resuscitation, he or she can participate in a practical skills examination at an approved eACLS center.

The American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) also developed an ACLS program. The initial training program takes 15 hours to complete, and requires both a written examination and a skills evaluation.

The American Medical Resource Institute (AMRI) also offers an ACLS program. As with eACLS, the didactic portion is completed on line. After successful completion, the student is required to have her or his supervisor complete the clinical training/skill performance evaluation which the student then return. After these documents are received the provider card is issues.

Another common misconception is that the Joint Commission (JC) mandates a specific (e.g., AHA) resuscitation program. This is not true, JC standard PC.02.01.11 requires that resuscitation services be available throughout the facility, and lists the following as one of the elements of performance "an evidenced-based training program(s) is used to train staff to recognize the need for and use of resuscitation equipment and techniques."

Using this standard, each facility is free to determine which program or programs that they will use to satisfy this requirement. Some facilities are specific as to which program they will accept (i.e. only aha) while others will accept any program as long as it is compliant with the 2010 aha guidelines for CPR and ECC.

However, I tend to agree with the previous posters. The AHA ACLS course will likely receive wider acceptance than any of these others courses.