ACLS certification

maiday · Apr 17, 2010

I'm a nursing student and I took ACLS. We did study ECGs in class though and I'd taken pharm so I was familiar with the drugs and the strips. I don't feel ACLS "prepared" after taking to be honest though. I kind of more took it to have it on my resume in this economy everything helps I think.

I would agree though that an ECG course would be beneficial though, especially if you haven't studied that in school yet. I think that might be even more valuable.

jwconn1104 · Apr 17, 2010

I'm a nursing student and I took ACLS. We did study ECGs in class though and I'd taken pharm so I was familiar with the drugs and the strips. I don't feel ACLS "prepared" after taking to be honest though. I kind of more took it to have it on my resume in this economy everything helps I think.
I would agree though that an ECG course would be beneficial though, especially if you haven't studied that in school yet. I think that might be even more valuable.

Great to hear that another student has done it. I think I am going to take a basic rhythm class and do some "ACLS pharmacology" preparation. I really appreciate all of the good information. If anyone has any advise on particular rhythm classes, that would be great... online and cheap are always pluses.

Keep the good information coming. Thanks!

mad-mary · Apr 17, 2010

While in nursing school I took a job as a tech on an ICU unit. They paid for (and paid me while I attended) a basic EKG class. After graduation they sent me to ACLS. It worked out well for me. I can't think of any use for ACLS unless you were working as a nurse in an area where you would respond to codes. :redpinkhe

Ms.RN · Apr 18, 2010

Do you think its possible to pass the ACLS class without ekg class or do you think ekg class needs to be taken first before taking acls?

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2010

Do you think its possible to pass the ACLS class without ekg class or do you think ekg class needs to be taken first before taking acls?

Yes it is possible to take and pass ACLS without an ekg class. You will learn lethal arrythmias which you should be given sample strips of. I first took it as a student all those years ago and passed it. Just study the stuff they give you and if you have questions, ask. ACLS is all about recognizing those specific rhythms and having memorized the algorithim.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Apr 18, 2010

My advice is to do whatever it is you feel is best for your career, and don't listen to naysayers. You can do whatever you want if you believe in yourself. Buy some books and research some online tests. Learn the basic rhythms, there aren't that many of them. You can do it if you try. The course book you get will tell you everything you need to know. Good luck! :up:

jwconn1104 · Apr 18, 2010

My advice is to do whatever it is you feel is best for your career, and don't listen to naysayers. You can do whatever you want if you believe in yourself. Buy some books and research some online tests. Learn the basic rhythms, there aren't that many of them. You can do it if you try. The course book you get will tell you everything you need to know. Good luck!

Thanks. I think I'm going to go for it. One of my friends has an ACLS book, and I think I'm going to learn some basic rhythms via AHA course. I should be able to do it. I'm just going to have to make some time, I suppose.

abbnurse · Apr 18, 2010

Hi James,

My employer paid for me to take an EKG class offered at a local hospital before I took the ACLS certification class and exam. It was really great (although at first I was secretly horrified because I felt like everyone in the class knew SO much more than me, a lot of them already worked on telemetry units!) . I did find it HUGELY helpful when it was time to take the ACLS exam, because we were definitely expected to know how to read EKG's when we walked in the door. The LPN program I attended back in the day did not cover EKG's at all. The class was Tuesday and Thursday (all day) for two weeks, so we got lots of help and practice. Also, a fellow nurse gave me one of those "EKG's Made Incredibly Easy!" books that she had used, and it was also very helpful (but I can't say I ever found most of them to be incredibly easy, haha).

Good luck to you!

abbnurse · Apr 18, 2010

My advice is to do whatever it is you feel is best for your career, and don't listen to naysayers. You can do whatever you want if you believe in yourself. Buy some books and research some online tests. Learn the basic rhythms, there aren't that many of them. You can do it if you try. The course book you get will tell you everything you need to know. Good luck!

Hi again James, just wanted to comment that I agree with NickB and Rocknurse....and after you learn the basic rhythms, it all comes together.....I have recertified three times now and it's never been as nerve-racking as the first time I was learning it all. Also, I forgot to mention that the course book that I recieved before the first ACLS class was very helpful too, but may have been overwhelming if I hadn't taken the EKG class and studied the book my friend gave me. Again, good luck.

jwconn1104 · May 25, 2010

Just so everyone who commented knows. I DID get my ACLS. It's really not that difficult. It's hard work and studying for sure, but it's not impossible like some make it sound. If you're a student and have a little extra time this summer. DO IT WHILE YOU'RE STILL IN STUDY MODE!

BluegrassRN · May 25, 2010

So, you feel safe to run a code? Because, in my hospital anyhow, that's what being ACLS certified means. Whomever is ACLS certified in the area of the code at the time runs the code until the code team can get there. Sometimes that's seconds, once in a code I was in it was several minutes due to another code (we're a smaller hospital, only one code team). We had to interpret the rhythm, push drugs, and shock without any physician or pharmacist to help. You feel comfortable doing that?

That's what those certifications mean. They aren't a stepping stone to getting a job. They mean that you have that particular advanced knowledge. I hope all you students keep that in mind when you're taking these classes. Don't get me wrong, I wish every nurse who worked the floor took this class. We all should be ACLS certified. But a student? That's a lot of responsibility.

jwconn1104 · May 25, 2010

So, you feel safe to run a code? Because, in my hospital anyhow, that's what being ACLS certified means. Whomever is ACLS certified in the area of the code at the time runs the code until the code team can get there. Sometimes that's seconds, once in a code I was in it was several minutes due to another code (we're a smaller hospital, only one code team). We had to interpret the rhythm, push drugs, and shock without any physician or pharmacist to help. You feel comfortable doing that?
That's what those certifications mean. They aren't a stepping stone to getting a job. They mean that you have that particular advanced knowledge. I hope all you students keep that in mind when you're taking these classes. Don't get me wrong, I wish every nurse who worked the floor took this class. We all should be ACLS certified. But a student? That's a lot of responsibility.

To be honest, I do feel like I could run a code. I'm still fresh on it, so that may change.

I'm comfortable with rhythms (at least the ones that are required for the course) and I'm comfortable with the bread and butter pharm.

I'm sure I couldn't run something completely out of the ordinary, but I do feel like I could do it with some degree of confidence. I don't intend on this course being the "end all" to my advanced training, but I hope it gets me in the door of an ICU as a tech so that I can be exposed to this kind of stuff and really let the training sink in.

I'm sorry if you don't agree with that type of thinking, but the job market is very competitive in my area and I'll do what it takes to get where I want to be.