ACLS 2016 preparation

[Florida Sun RN]

My older sister is going to go to the ACLS certification and she hasn't had a nursing job in a year. What should she do to prepare for the two day class and certification? TIA for your comments.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

The answer is push epi.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Why isn't your "older sister" asking the questions? You cannot do this for her.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

The answer is push epi.

Disregard

[Florida Sun RN]

My sister is older and not so internet savvy so I told her I would ask on here for her.

[dianah, ASN]

Review the book, and if time is short, review mainly the medications

[chare]

The answer is push epi.

And you base this on?

[BSN16]

yep. epi epi epi

[chare]

yep. epi epi epi

And you base this on what?

Have either of you or Alex Egan read the 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care? Part 7: Adult Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support includes the updated 2015 recommendation regarding epinephrine use in cardiac arrest:

Standard-dose epinephrine (1 mg every 3 to 5 minutes) may be reasonable for patients in cardiac arrest (Class IIb, LOE B-R).

The class of recommendation and levels of evidence are discussed here: From Part 2: Evidence Evaluation and Management of Conflicts of Interest.

[CalArmy]

Know your rhythms and what to treat them with. Know what rhythms you can't shock. When I did it the machine is random and spouts out a rhythm. I ran the code and gave orders for what meds to give and counting the intervals for CPR versus AED reading the rhythm. They had us do practice code after practice code to get comfortable.

[ED_Murse]

Follow the manual. Know the algorithms, drugs and rhythms and it's very straightforward.