ACLS requirement for NICU nurses

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Hello all!

I am returning to NICU nursing and I see now that hospitals are starting to require ACLS for NICU nurses. Can someone explain to me why they are doing this? My thoughts are that it may be a Magnet thing or they expect NICU nurses to float to the ED/ICU.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thank You!

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Moved to the NICU forum.

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But L&D nurses, I believe, don't have to have ACLS and they would be responsible for mom first.

Enlighten me...why would you think ACLS would be optional for L&D nurses? (I mean, if you're confused, follow me around for a shift, and maybe you'll understand why ACLS training is important on my unit!)

As a point of clarification, L&D nurses are actually responsible for both mom and baby simultaneously, not one before the other. Therefore, we have one nurse present for mom and one present for baby at delivery, that way there are two of us should something happen where both patients require our attention (been there before, too).

With regards to ACLS for NICU nurses, I can only see it if the nurses on that unit are cross-trained and expected to float to L&D, postpartum, a med-surg unit, etc.

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As I stated in a previous comment, I have seen job postings that do not require L&D nurses to be ACLS certified. Plain and simple. I am actually surprised, myself, that it is not a requirement for all L&D positions.

I am not trying to undermine what you do as a nurse. I know L&D nurses also have a responsibility to the baby, but what I am referring to are the times when NICU is called in to attend a high-risk delivery. At that point, the NICU team would take the lead for caring for the baby.

I am just looking for an answer as to why hospitals are now starting to require NICU nurses to be ACLS certified.

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Specializes in NICU.
As I stated in a previous comment, I have seen job postings that do not require L&D nurses to be ACLS certified. Plain and simple. I am actually surprised, myself, that it is not a requirement for all L&D positions.

I am not trying to undermine what you do as a nurse. I know L&D nurses also have a responsibility to the baby, but what I am referring to are the times when NICU is called in to attend a high-risk delivery. At that point, the NICU team would take the lead for caring for the baby.

I am just looking for an answer as to why hospitals are now starting to require NICU nurses to be ACLS certified.

It could be for the same reason hospitals want BSN's. "See how educated our nurses are?"

I didn't take your post as saying L&D nurses shouldn't need it, only that you were observing that some postings seem to indicate they don't need it since it isn't required.

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Thank you KRVRN, BSN!

And yes, I agree, I think the requirement is more about the hospital's status and not so much about what is practical. It would make more sense to require PALS for us over ACLS.

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Specializes in NICU, Cardiac.

I have ACLS but that was from previously working with adults. I won't renew it in December when it is due. We are all going to get PALS certified in order to possibly be floated to our new PICU, since we are the only population they could pull from.

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Specializes in NICU.

ACLS is not required for our L&D nurses, although I can understand why it is required at other facilities. Codes on moms are incredibly rare on our LDRP floor. NICU RNs are encouraged to take PALS, but not ACLS

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Thank you for your input!

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Yes, I thought about the fact that there may be an expectation for us to respond to a crashing mom at birth. But L&D nurses, I believe, don't have to have ACLS and they would be responsible for mom first.

L&D on our unit are required to become ACLS certified within a prescribed time period upon hire.

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