ACLS certification- Will this help my resume???

KateRN1 · May 23, 2009

Short answer, it can't hurt but won't likely help. Long answer: it's a huge chunk of change and covers a lot of meds and algorhythms (sp?), not to mention you have to have the ability to read rhythm strips (do they teach that in nursing school now?) and treat based on the identified rhythm. If it were me, I wouldn't do it because you really don't need it unless you plan on working in an intensive care unit or emergency department, in which case your facility should provide the ed. Save your money and concentrate on other aspects that might make you more marketable: practice interview skills, volunteer if possible, be willing to take jobs that are not your first choice and maybe even outside of your preferred commute.

snowyRN · May 23, 2009

Any certification will only help you BUT do you really want to pay for the ACLS cert when you're future employer will more than likely pay for it?....

DaniLPN2RN · May 24, 2009

Before getting ACLS certification, you should take a Telemetry class. This will prepare you much better. Again, as mentioned above, your employer will pay for this certification if it is necessary for your job.

traumahawk99 · May 24, 2009

hell yes!!! get it asap. it's required for what i do, as a tele float nurse for several hospitals. am i paid for it? you bet! a bsn wouldn't be worth a nickle to me, yet for as little work as it is, an acls is essential. otherwise, i wouldn't get near the hours/shifts i get.

my job? 4 nights a week = 48 hours, pay is 2,500 gross. no benefits, but so what? if you can do 6 nights a week for 6 months (and yes, the work is there) you''ll make 100k.

not bad for an associates degree with an acls certification, especially in this economy.

as an aside, i'm entering a nurse practitioner program (distance), but that's another story. bottom line, get the acls!!!!!

KateRN1 · May 24, 2009

But as a new grad, does this make sense? Sure, it's a great cert to have for sure, but I would think that studying for NCLEX and looking for a paying job would be better pursuits. There's a lot of information covered in ACLS and it assumes a certain level of ability, not generally common to new grads (unless they'vehad previous experience), like reading monitors and accurately identifying rhythms. A new grad isn't likely to be hired as a tele float nurse. And doesn't one have to have some sort of licensure to take ACLS anyway (RN, EMT, etc.)? You can't deliver the meds until you're licensed anyway, which renders ACLS a moot point.

Some continuing eds that *would* make you more marketable: telemetry interpretation, any advanced IV skills, leadership/management seminars, add to your continuing ed file with CEUs. I'm sure that others can come up with more.

traumahawk99 · May 25, 2009

a lot of the things you'll do, like iv's, are things you'll learn on the job. ACLS is the number one cert you can get! it's the ONLY one i've ever been asked about by an employer, even before i did tele! don't take my word for it (or anyone elses for that matter)... talk to hospital recruiters/unit managers.

if you're good to go on the nclex , it would make plenty of sense to increase your value by getting your acls. even if you can't get it due to licensure issues... you could certainly start to study for it.

other suggestion? be willing to work nights. that will also make you more valuable. i really doubt you've got much worry about finding a job, if that's your real concern. it's going to take a year for you to get your feet under you and be comfortable, as long as you can basically do the job without gross errors, are vertical, and have a nursing license... you're good to go. management really doesn't care about much else.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · May 25, 2009

I'd wait until your after you're hired. It doesn't mean a thing as a new grad. We know that you don't know or understand it yet.

Have your employer pay for it, but don't waste your money on it now.

flightnurse2b, LPN · May 25, 2009

i would recommend to you to take an EKG course or see if your hospital has a tele floor that will let you sit with the monitor tech for a day and interpret some strips with them. and make sure you are current on your BLS skills.

i was naughty and missed the sign up for the recert class and got stuck in the two day class (but i don't mind, cute firefighters) and was in a group with about 20 new grad nurses. only 8 out of the group passed the megacode (including myself)... everyone else couldn't identify the rhythms so they used the wrong meds or didn't shock appropriately, and failed the clinical portion of the course. reading a rhythm while it's flying accross a screen (and if you get a snarky instructor like i did, changing it every 5 minutes, its even worse) can be tricky if you aren't comfortable with telemetry... especially when your instructor shows little mercy.

i would let your prospective employer pay for it after you get a job, and give yourself time to study and get comfortable with the material. ACLS is much easier when you've actually seen it in action, no the codes dont usually work like in the book, but the basis is still the same. every nurse in my building regardless of ICU, ER, L&D, outpatient, etc, is required to be ACLS certified, so our codes usually run pretty smoothly... and we will usually pull in a student or a new grad fellow to observe, because it does help bring the material to life.

good luck in all your future endeavors :)

chicookie, BSN, RN · May 26, 2009

It may help and it may hurt. If is a place like ED or ICU, they might want an ACLS certified nurse, if its a med surg area they might not. I remember what the nurse recruiter told me when I asked, she said if I wanted med surg not go for it because the managers don't want to pay the differential for being certified.