Acls required?

i would rather take a 12 lead ekg course really, given a choice.

ACLS doesn't hurt to have in life or on a resume..I personally have had to code a mom and a gyn patient, and I bet there are more OB people than just me who had to code a patient in an ambulance...As we recover people and also occasionally have critical patients ( oh, maternity must be SUCH a nice place to work!), I am glad to try and keep mine current..

but did you run the whole code, algorithms and all???? Or did a team help you out, e.g. doctors, anesthesia, code team, RT, etc....

we have had codes, too, ----OB does have them. But we have been pushed aside very quickly by code teams when they happen.

that is what i am driving at....ABC's honestly are all we get to before we are shoved onto the sidelines, keeping a log. I don't mind that; those who use this all the time know the drill better than I do, by a LONG shot. They are welcome to run things.

I guess I am wondering: Why does no one see what I was saying??? I never once said it was a bad thing to have ACLS...I just said I had a fear of being held to a standard of care I did not feel confident in. (ala fetal heart monitoring, which IS one thing I do all the time and what I held to by AWHONN)---- Now that the worry is allayed, I am fine with it. It never hurts to gain knowledge and improve. It comes down to liability w/me, not laziness. Sorry if I am unclear here.

It doesn't hurt. But in my opinion it should be voluntary for profressional development and not required of med-surg nurses. I'm sure you have a code team that does the ACLS protocal during codes and your role is outside the realm of ACLS during a code. Same at our hospital. I don't have ACLS as I felt the need to learn other things that would be useful to me in my practice.

But I'll be getting it as part of my critical care course that I'm currently taking.

Good luck.

I agree is should be voluntary for med-surg nurses or post partum. There is always a question on the ACLS exam that says : If you pass ACLS it means: a) passed a written exam, demo exam based on ACLS standards b) expert in ACLS C)...... d)..... The choice is always something like the "a" choice. You pass the test, it doesn't mean you are expert. I analyze rhythms everyday at work and get r/o MI patients and use some ACLS drugs, but wouldn't I feel proficient to run a code............heck no. I work tele and though it is definetly necessary for my job when the next re-cert comes around I have to study quite a bit to remember the stuff I don't use on a daily basis. We are also recorders at the code and the ACLs helps that too.

For med-surg nurses I think the $$$ the hospital would pay to send staff to ACLS could be put to better use

Where I work ALL RNs are required to complete ACLS within their first year of hire. Steps of discipline apply when you don't. I just finished the class myself....not because I wanted to, but because it was mandatory.

Probably won't recall much of it since it isn't something I actively do on a daily basis. I've never been in on a code. For that matter, I've never had to do CPR on anyone since I've been a nurse. When I worked PEDI, I took PALS, and never used it either. So, why bother taking it when we aren't allowed to run the codes anyway?

I am an LPN and I am ACLS certified. I did work on a Tele floor but now I work in ICU/SDU. I work in a small hospital, and here, if an LPN is certified, she/he can run a code. I love learning and want to know how I can help patients. If it were not for patients, I would not have a job.

Only the doctor or anesthestist can intubate here, but when some one mentions an ET tube, the size of the tube, or the lip line, I at least know what they are talking about. And you will have to intubate (a manakin/dummy) when talking ACLS. Or at least my group did. This has helped me tremendously in caring for intubated and vented patients and now I am not afraid of trachs.

Take the oppurnity to learn all you can......knowledge is something no one can take from you.:wink2: :wink2: :roll :roll