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Discussion

ACLS Certified!!

Past two days, I have been taking an ACLS class, today took the certification exam and can now start adding the proverbial alphabet soup after my name.

The new way for BLS CPR is completely different. No longer the 2:15 ratio, but now the 2:30 ratio. Getting past confusion, and learning how to run a code, made what I refered to as organized chaos a little bit more organized, and I now see the method to the madness. I also gave me a heads up as to what meds are going to be pushed during a code.

Work has been keeping me busy. My manager has contantly been giving me positive feedback, and it has been noted by many of my co-workers, that now with 11 months of experience under my belt, that I am now calm, cool and collected when a situation arises.

I have really kept my sense of humor and don't let things get to me. When the nutty (whether they are an almond, cashew, or peanut) family member approaches me, I just take it in stride and keep my cool. No use getting myself angry, or upset. I just take what they say with a grain of salt.

I am also not afraid to question a MD's order without hesitation. If I feel something is not right, I will question it.

Two weeks ago, I had a patient in for alcoholic pancreatitis. They had been NPO for 5 days. New resident who was in their 3rd day of practice comes up to me and promptly tells me that they are going to D/C the patient. I looked at the resident as if they were crazy. (I did not know the attending was standing behind me.)

I told them that the pt has been NPO, we don't know if they can tolerate a diet. And their lipase levels on the lab went up. Resident then says to me it only went up a little bit. I then said it went up 50 points from a normal number. We don't know if it is trending upward.

His responce was "I'm the doctor and your the nurse, (saying it as if I am lowly and uneducated.) and I am going to d/c the patient." I simply responded with, "and how long have you been out of schoo?" 1.5 months, "And how many days have you been practicing?" 3 day. "Do you know what the purpose of an RN is?" To carry out what the MD orders. "Wrong, it is to cover your gluteous Maximus."

At this point the attending stepped in, and just said to the resident, follow me, went into the stair well where they were chewed out. Resident came out with a dejected look, said sorry followed by lets keep the patient atleast 24 more hours. Fortunately the pt tolerated their meal and the numbers were just an abnomally.

And the resident last time I saw them was trying to get on my good side now on the last pt that I had. They asked me what did I think was the best course of action. I guess they learned their lesson, never insult the nurse.

The latest class is going to be so much fun. Got to head to sleep for tomorrows shift. Can't wait!!!

Adam, RN, ACLS

Featured Replies

Way to go, Adam.

Adam,

I have so enjoyed your posts over the last year. I have read your posts and enjoyed each one of them. Its hard to believe that its been almost a yr.

I remember when I first started nursing I stood up to a new intern, he pulled the "my letters mean more than yours" and his attending quickly told him not to tick the nurses off, that the nurses could make him or break him.

Good for you standing up to that doc. We just had our new group of interns start about 2 wks ago. About 10 of them are in CCU for their very first rotation. Needless to say they are a bit overwhelmed. We had a code last week and one of the new interns was in the middle of it. After it was over with, he came up to me and asked me if he would ever be able to function in a code like the nurses did. He said that we were so confident that he had a hard time remembering that we were nurses and not docs ourselves. He was pasty white. Of course I told him that it came with time and experience and that he would be ok. He told me that in that code, he realized how much he could learn from the nurses. ;)

Congrats on ACLS!!

Adam, your post is inspirational!. I am going to start as a brand new nurse as soon as i can. I am nervous because i am still young (mid 20s) and lack a level of maturity that i know will come with experience. I tend to be shy, and unconfident at times with work, so i cannot wait to put myself to the test.

And in general....ACLS is that usually covered by your employer? I think the place i will be hired at eventually (around october) will pay for me, but now i am at home with a broken ankle and wouldnt mind getting out and doing something productive!

Is it worth it to go and get it done (along with CPR certification which is expired) or should i just wait until i get hired? Hmmm......decisions decisions....

Good post Adam. Always good to hear from you.

Congratulations. I enjoyed your post very much.

And in general....ACLS is that usually covered by your employer? I think the place i will be hired at eventually (around october) will pay for me, but now i am at home with a broken ankle and wouldnt mind getting out and doing something productive!

Is it worth it to go and get it done (along with CPR certification which is expired) or should i just wait until i get hired? Hmmm......decisions decisions....

sillylilly, i say go for it if you have the time to become ACLS certified. It is true that most employers will pay for it (mine did) but I also think that it will help keep things fresh in your mind and also look good on a resume, as something you have done between periods of work to furthur your nursing. It is always good to go in with current credentials, the hospitals want to hire someone that is ready to go. Besides, I found it enjoyable... I am a sucker for codes, and the more I know, the more I can do to help effectively.

Sillylilly - at least get your CPR up to date. At my last two hospitals that was a requirement for employment. I would hate for you to lose a job because of that.

how tough is getting your acls?

  • Author
how tough is getting your acls?

It really wasn't that tough. There is a lot that you have to know, but they teach it to you. But they teach you how to run a code, and it really helps you anticepate what the MD is going to order depending on what the situation is.

Adam, RN.

Good going Adam! I have always enjoyed your posts. Also congrats at reaching your one year mark. I am 6 months behind you ;)

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