Acls

The above is a great website...also I have been able to take a weekend course of ACLS through my local Fire Departments or Ambulance Companies at a discounted rate. The thing I like about taking it with...well, paramedics/EMT best is you get stories and common sense info that really tends to stick in your brain. These people do this all the time...best to learn from them I say!

Also, remember that you are building on your BLS with this info. It is like taking the BLS and accenting it on a higher level! So look at it that way, instead of so many others that fear and dread it like it is a monster in the closet ready to eat them alive...LOL!

Frankly, I have only had to do my BLS, even though I am taken and am qualified for ACLS since I was a student (many moons ago! LOL!). Basically because I was working in assisted living facilities with no equipment even if I needed it (no O2, airways, or even an auto defib or pulse ox!). The trick in knowing the ACLS is so you can anticipate need and keep that body as stable as you can do in your given situation till help arrives. Most often I was able to get great CPR to patients while doing a great assessment and short/informative report off quickly...and assist paramedics/EMT's in the next stages...because I knew what to do! VERY HELPFUL and saved precious seconds (like getting an IV line in while they worked and knowing what they would ask me to push...take over resps or compressions if one is tired...know a bad ekg from a good one...and so on.

I find knowing the ACLS, which is on my dime (since I don't have to know it...employer won't pay...but that is fine, I have had it since I was a student...so I keep that up!) is a very good idea to help in a chaotic situation such as codes...nice to have as many level heads as we can!

I thank the both of you.TriageRN that is the way that I look at it to. I know the more you know the better you are, more info can only help us not hurt us. Even though I really only need to know what to do in a code blue, I think I will get an acls book and read up on it. I really do not need the certification right now but will get it when I finish my RN.

Awesome! Sound like me...I didn't actually NEED it, but wanted to have it so I could be prepared!

The best thing about being a code leader or even stumbling upon a code situation is to remain calm as possible. Do your BLS from ABC right away! That BLS comes in very handy here...and is the foundation of all to come next...without it, you missed the most important steps of the entire situation...so keep those in your mind always. Like your ABC's when reading!

After that...and you determine the probelm..say it is full cardiac arrest...you go on from there knowing compressions and breathing are key. Get on that...or get someone on that quickly. Once equipment arrives, establish airway (bag valve mask, intubation, ect) at the same time making sure compressions are being done, hook up your EKG, assess need for shock, and have someone start your IV...we need those cardiac meds (you will learn which ones dependant on circumstance in the class...that is the toughie to memorize it...but you can!).

With those things in play...we got it going on! This is the best one can do for the patient minimally in ACLS! (well of course getting them into a place so CPR can work...LOL...lay them down on flat surface first!).

There is more, but if you break it down to easier steps of what needs to be done quickly...you save time in all the chaos that can happen!

Assesss

Breathing/O2/good airway

Compressions

Establish stable airway and resps by someone

Establish EKG and Rhythm

Establish IV access for vital meds (shocks only work if the meds to make the heart respond are in!).

Keep a level head!

Basics...not so scary huh? ( of course each of these will be explained to the fullest in books and classes...but that is the basic run down till MD/Paramedics arrive and the next steps when they do!)....