ACLS or PALS

caliotter3 · Feb 3, 2015

Most people wait until they get a job offer from an employer that pays for their course, unless, of course, you can afford it.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

If you can take either one, at no cost to you, by all means take it.

I took ACLS several years ago in the Pacific NW. The instructor told me that he had a very good student who had immigrated from somewhere in the Middle East. The student did very well in the two day class.

The instructor asked him so where are you going to be working and the student replied, "environmental services."

If someone with ESL and no medical background can read the book, study the algorithms and pass the test and mega code, so can you.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 3, 2015

At this point, if you can afford it, I would suggest taking ACLS and then PALS, in that order. If funds are even a little bit tight, I would suggest holding off on taking either of those as your employer will likely put you through those courses so you will have no out of pocket cost. Honestly though, taking either will not give you any real experience as actual clinical time will be more valuable in that regard.

In my case, I had a license that I needed to renew and I could use the update, so I took both within the last year. I say "update" because I'm also a Paramedic and I've had both ACLS and PALS a few times each. For me, it's more like taking a "merit badge" course than anything else. This is not to speak badly of the courses, just that the idea is to teach the participants how to follow a general approach to various problems so that they can better search for reversible causes while doing things that usually help.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2015

If you can take either one, at no cost to you, by all means take it.
I took ACLS several years ago in the Pacific NW. The instructor told me that he had a very good student who had immigrated from somewhere in the Middle East. The student did very well in the two day class.
The instructor asked him so where are you going to be working and the student replied, "environmental services."
If someone with ESL and no medical background can read the book, study the algorithms and pass the test and mega code, so can you.

Just as a heads-up, he may have been a physician or nurse in the Middle East before he got here. Happens all the time. ACLS is not a total walk in the park that most people in envi services can walk in and pass.

illinoisnurse2 · Feb 3, 2015

I would wait until you get a job. if it's required they will pay for it.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 3, 2015

If you're looking for an acute care job in the Houston area, it's going to be very tough as an ADN grad. You may want to focus on independent/community hospitals in outlying areas. Even though your dream is to work in Pedi, you need to take whatever is offered.... so you may not need that PALS certification. If there is any training required for your new job, the employer must provide it - and pay the cost because it is a (Federal) legal requirement.

Best of luck to you on your job hunt.

Mel42174 · Feb 3, 2015

While I am looking for a job I took both certifications. Yes I had to pay for them myself, but I figure they look good on my resume.

RunBabyRN · Feb 4, 2015

If you're looking for an acute care job in the Houston area, it's going to be very tough as an ADN grad. You may want to focus on independent/community hospitals in outlying areas. Even though your dream is to work in Pedi, you need to take whatever is offered.... so you may not need that PALS certification. If there is any training required for your new job, the employer must provide it - and pay the cost because it is a (Federal) legal requirement.
Best of luck to you on your job hunt.

This was my thought reading this- I have seen on here that in Houston and other major cities in TX, you will need a BSN to get into a hospital. You might consider pediatric home health if peds is your goal, and research whether or not PALS is needed or beneficial for that. I wouldn't stress about doing one of these certs until you have a better idea of the job market in your area.

Mr. Murse · Feb 4, 2015

First of all, I can't speak for other parts of the country, but ADN nurses in my area really don't have much of a problem with getting a job simply because of their degree. I have heard other states are a little more strict about it though, but I wouldn't rule yourself out quite yet without asking around (which you may have already done). I'd say at worst you may have to take a job that's not high on your list, like a LTC facility or something, to get started. Then with a little real world experience you could work yourself up a little easier.

What I would strongly suggest though is (since you're in your last semester of nursing school) to go and try to get a job as a patient care technician/nurses aid/whatever they call it where you're at. My hospital has a "nursing extern" program designed specifically for this kind of thing. I got a job doing that for my last semester at a large hospital and earned a good reputation that way, not to mention a lot of valuable real world experience. I had two job offers from two different floors before I had even graduated because they all knew me and knew I was a good employee, so as soon as I passed NCLEX I started my preceptorship.