ACLS Question

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Hi Everyone!

I'm scheduled to take my first ACLS certification class on 5/26 and am wondering how much prep work I should do to be successful with certification.

I have basic EKG skills and am new to the ED; not much advanced EKG skills (I can tell A-fib from A-flutter, SVT, VF and of course, asystole). :chuckle

I have the manual and am going thru it slowly.

How much do I need to study to prepare for this class?

Thanks!

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Stitchie,

I'm just curious, are you taking it on 4/26/05 and are studying nearly a year in advance (not a bad thing to do) or do you have the date wrong? Good luck on your studying and I'm sorry I don't have the answer to your question! :)

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Feel comfortable with the use of a defibrillator. Review the charts in the book with drugs. They will be going over all of the information that you need to know. I have just seen the defib cause problems for many students that weren't familiar with its use.

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Stitchie,

I'm just curious, are you taking it on 4/26/05 and are studying nearly a year in advance (not a bad thing to do) or do you have the date wrong? Good luck on your studying and I'm sorry I don't have the answer to your question! :)

No -- wednesday, 4/26/04 and I have the provider manual that I've been going thru. I'm just wondering if I am going to waste my time/money if I'm not well prepared.

I have the drugs and defibrillator thing down fairly well but not completely comfortable with it. I've been in a few codes and have understood the why's and what-for's.

I really want to pass the ACLS certification on the first time out so I'm looking for anyone who has certification already.

Thanks for the replies.

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Just keep at it. I have only seen 2 people in 7 yrs fail ACLS or PALS. NOT that I am telling you to slack. Just take your time and do your best.

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No -- wednesday, 4/26/04 and I have the provider manual that I've been going thru. I'm just wondering if I am going to waste my time/money if I'm not well prepared.

I have the drugs and defibrillator thing down fairly well but not completely comfortable with it. I've been in a few codes and have understood the why's and what-for's.

I really want to pass the ACLS certification on the first time out so I'm looking for anyone who has certification already.

Thanks for the replies.

I have been certified for over well 20 years in ACLS, actually took the second class that was ever offered in Detroit, and that was around 1980. Make sure you know how to use your defibrillator and feel comfortable with it. Have you ever done the check for it on your unit? Perhaps you should try to do that a few times..............it just takes practice.

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No -- wednesday, 4/26/04 and I have the provider manual that I've been going thru. I'm just wondering if I am going to waste my time/money if I'm not well prepared.

I have the drugs and defibrillator thing down fairly well but not completely comfortable with it. I've been in a few codes and have understood the why's and what-for's.

I really want to pass the ACLS certification on the first time out so I'm looking for anyone who has certification already.

Thanks for the replies.

Stitchie....you have the date down as April 26th. Today is May 20th. We just want to make sure you havent missed your test or you have just mistaken May with April.

Double Check sweetie I would hate to thikn you missed it already.

Stephanie;)

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Stitchie....you have the date down as April 26th. Today is May 20th. We just want to make sure you havent missed your test or you have just mistaken May with April.

Double Check sweetie I would hate to thikn you missed it already.

Stephanie;)

Sorry guys it appears I'm confusing April and May! OMG, stressed over this already!

Nope, it is May 26th, Wednesday, 2004, and if I manage to keep my head on straight I hopefully won't miss it!

Sorry, totally my fault.

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Sorry guys it appears I'm confusing April and May! OMG, stressed over this already!

Nope, it is May 26th, Wednesday, 2004, and if I manage to keep my head on straight I hopefully won't miss it!

Sorry, totally my fault.

Stitchie....take a deep breath, relax and you will do fine. The ACLS that most every one uses now is less stressed and very few people cannot pass it if they have experience, which it sounds a s if you do. so relax..I think you will do fine, just remember to know your drugs when and what they are used for. That is a biggie.
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Specializes in Emergency Room/corrections.

ACLS is no longer a pass/fail class. It is the responsibility of the instructors to make sure everyone completes the course and is knowledgable upon completion. If you study the questions at the end of each chapter you should be prepared to take the written exam. Remember the key points, early defibrillation, AED's and rapid onset of CPR. Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing Advanced Practice.
ACLS is no longer a pass/fail class. It is the responsibility of the instructors to make sure everyone completes the course and is knowledgable upon completion. If you study the questions at the end of each chapter you should be prepared to take the written exam. Remember the key points, early defibrillation, AED's and rapid onset of CPR. Good luck!

You can still "Fail" ACLS. There are still recommendations for when a person should be remediated or advised to study more and come back for another try. Still a far cry from my frst class as a medic. Had to run a perfect CPR strip, then run the code alone with the medical director looking over you and then calculate the bicarb dose using the 3 Golden Rules. Ah, those were the days.

Study your book, listen to any lecture, participate in all practice sessions, kow how to work the defib. You will do well.

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Specializes in Emergency Room/corrections.
You can still "Fail" ACLS. There are still recommendations for when a person should be remediated or advised to study more and come back for another try. Still a far cry from my frst class as a medic. Had to run a perfect CPR strip, then run the code alone with the medical director looking over you and then calculate the bicarb dose using the 3 Golden Rules. Ah, those were the days.

Study your book, listen to any lecture, participate in all practice sessions, kow how to work the defib. You will do well.

In our hospital, no one fails ACLS. As instructors, we stay and drill and do whatever is needed to assist the person who is having problems passing the written test. My first days of ACLS was similar to yours. I had a doc standing behind me with the monitor remote in his hand, switching the rhythms with each intervention that I gave. we had to "Take the team" during the megacode and delegate responsibilities along with trying to remember how to calculate the drug doses. Many a nurse left crying and didnt come back. A far cry from ACLS today. LOL I think todays approach is better.

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