ACLS

Don't take it. If it is required for your job, your employer will put you through it for free. ACLS courses make the assumption that you know all rhythms and are familiar with all emergency medications; what the course teaches is the recommended algorithms for resuscitation which builds on that previous knowledge. You will be in way over your head and I don't think it is going to help you get a job, plus you'll be out the $220.

If you are going to take ACLS it is critical that you can identify EKG rhythms on the fly on a monitor. They aren't all straight forward and my instructors delight in changing the monitor just before you shock so that a shock is not indicated. I wouldn't recommend you take it unless you are working in an area where you need it. If you don't use it, you will lose it and that's an expensive loss! I don't know that many SNFs even have crash carts? (I'm over generalizing here but every SNF I know someone at requires DNR to be admitted). You'd really only be more marketable if you wanted to go to an ICU or PCU or CCU type setting (or other high risk specialty - endo, cath lab, etc). a new grad would probably be pretty overwhelmed in an ACLS course (I took PALS the week after I graduated per my unit's wishes and I wanted to jump in a hole). It isn't going to do any good to take a class when you don't have a firm skillset yet. ACLS deals with meds and defibrillation and EKG rhythms and to be honest if my mother were coding, I'd want a more experienced set of ACLS nurses working on the code. I'd stick to doing CPR and watching what else goes on around you until you get more experience. I worked stepdown after that first horrible job where I was thrown to PALS and then the wolves and they (the wonderful stepdown unit) made me work for a year before they let me do ACLS. It was the best thing they could have done for me and all the patients. I helped out in codes in other ways until I got my certification. Hope this helps and don't take my comments in a bad way. It is just the honest opinion of an ACLS nurse. Save your money and get some good critical thinking books for your practice area. There is time enough for special skills later.

It could help to have on your resume, but then again I still don't have a job either. Just had 1 phone interview for a residency program.

I am a new grad RN, I took ACLS before I graduated to help pad my resume, and I just finished PALS, and am debating taking a EKG class.

True that if you get a job where it is required they will pay for you to have the class, but I think it shows motivation on your part to already have those classes done.

I didn't find the class really hard, you do need to study before going to the class but it is doable, I wouldn't want to be the leader of a code any time soon, but it helps give you an idea of what is expected in a code.

$200 is I guess a pallpark, do they provide the book? I took it I already had gottent the book so my class was $150, and the book was another $25

ICU/CCU are not the only places that require ACLS knowledge; I work on a medical-surgical floor and was required to take ACLS after becoming certified as a chemotherapy nurse (my floor is the only one in the hospital that does inpatient chemo). I do not think you would be in over your head as I was not, as a med-surg nurse, the least bit familiar with EKG rhythms. I took a basic rhythm interpretation class and studied the EKG rhythms heavily prior to the class, and I passed the written and the practical part (the practical part is essentially a series of mock codes where you have to identify the rhythm on the monitor and correctly state the proper treatment for it, usually a combination of drugs and sometimes defibrillating).

As for being helpful, it may be or may not be, it depends on what your future job will be. If employers do not require it, it probably will not sway their opinion of you one way or the other. If they do require it, it may make them look upon you more favorably but, then again, it may not. If you have a spare $220 lying around, it will not hurt you to take it, but just be aware that it may not help you significantly either.

Good luck :)

There's no reason you can't take ACLS but it may not really help you land that job. I strongly disagree with others here that it would be too hard, you can't be successful at it, etc. All it takes to pass and get your card is dedication and study. And as to the one poster who stated they'd rather have more experienced staff run a code, well in today's nursing world that may not always be possible-better that people be educated no matter their experience level.

All that being said, the first time I took ACLS I was in nursing school and I loved it. It taught me so much. Now, 13 years later I've actually spent time as an instructor and found I loved that too. (Had to stop teaching classes as I'm now back in school myself.) The price you listed is pretty common, you may be able to find it a bit cheaper. If you go to the American Heart Association website and do a search for classed near you, you may find some variance in price to your advantage.And if the class is set-up for CEU's (some are, some aren't) you may be able to claim the class as an education deduction to maintain your license (make sure to explore that with your tax preparer). If you have the money and the time, I'd say go for it.

Do it if you want to do it, and if you feel it will make your resume look better. Don't listen to people who tell you you shouldn't, or that it's too hard. Don't let anyone hold you back. It can only do you good! It will look great on your resume, and make sure you make it a feature. Once you have it, don't let it lapse! You never know what might happen in the future, and no job is secure. You might find yourself needing a job in a hurry and be glad you had it. It's not too hard, and you can get a book to teach you all the major rhythms. It's very doable, and the classes are usually very informative and they assist you to get through the exam. I thoroughly enjoyed mine, and not one month later found myself in a situation where I needed to have it urgently. Not only did I have it, but I got the job too! Always strive for more and keep your ambitions high. You can do anything you want to...you're a nurse!

Oh...and edited to say, anytime and anywhere there are sick people, there is going to be a code situation. Wouldn't you rather know what to do? Jus' sayin'!

Thanks for all your replies! I'll definitely consider the pros and cons of what you have all said. I'm not sure I have the money at this time but hopefully by the time the Fall comes I can swing it and in the mean time be studying. I have a hard time with the heart blocks. Any tips?

Thanks for all your replies! I'll definitely consider the pros and cons of what you have all said. I'm not sure I have the money at this time but hopefully by the time the Fall comes I can swing it and in the mean time be studying. I have a hard time with the heart blocks. Any tips?

Try these:

Practice EKG Strips

Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) library

index

(click on Heart Blocks)

Good luck!

I would take an EKG class prior to taking the ACLS course. Good luck!

ACLS isn't all that hard. Just have to know the algorithms and know how to read a rhythm strip.

I don't know that it's actually helped me that much on my cardiac floor but having the knowledge does help my self confidence.

The price you quoted seems a bit high, but that may be a regional thing. I'd shop around to be sure.