ACLS

[Idaho80]

i just finished my preceptorship in the icu, my preceptor knew that i either want to go into traveling, icu or ed. during my three week preceptorship my nurse had me check out the acls book and would quiz me throughout my training she stated that it was good to start learing the acls protocols now instead of while studying for my boards. my question is it a good idea to focus on my advance studies now or wait until i am an rn with more experience? i really enjoyed my time in the icu and my preceptor gave me a referral to the ed i know that the acls certification would look good on my resume but part of me wants to focus on passing my boards.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

ACLS is essential if you work in critical care. Would you like to know what to do if your patient codes? It will also help you understand a lot of critical care medications some of which are included in ACLS and others that are related.

[WSU_Ally_RN, BSN, RN]

The theory where I have worked always has been get your feet wet in the unit first, see a few codes, then take ACLS within 6 months of hire so you know what they are actually talking about in the scenario's they present. Also, most places of employment will pay for you to take the course, and pay you while you're taking the course, so it's a nice little bonus :)

[brownbook]

What good will it do you to be ACLS certified if you flunk your boards????????? Actually I don't even think the AHA would certify a "lay" person? You have to be an RN (or LVN or MD, etc.) to take ACLS I think?

[GilaRRT]

No, students can take ACLS. ACLS and PALS are incorporated into my college respiratory and paramedic programmes. As an ACLS instructor, I do not "certify" anybody in the sense that they are credentialled to perform some sort of additional scope of practice. We simply "certify" that they have passed the course objectives and completed a cognitive and skill evaluation, nothing more. This is why you may see providers like basic EMT's have ACLS credentials.

[flashpoint]

Worry about boards...there are going to be plenty of ACLS and PALS certified people around while you are in orientation and afterward. Besides, ACLS, CPR, PALS and all of the AHA stuff is supposed to change in January...according to the people teaching my ACLS class (two weeks ago) as of January 1, they teach the new stuff!

Best of Luck to you!!!

[GilaRRT]

It will take a while to roll out the new material. The 2005 standards will still be taught after January, but the push is to roll out the material over the next several months.

[flashpoint]

Hmmm...we have been promised the 2010 changes as of the first class in January...they said we might not have books, but the instructors will have the information and will teach that. Hard to tell...when I taught CPR, we didn't get the 2005 changes until October 2006.

Either way, I would wait...

[GilaRRT]

If you can knock out a day ACLS course now, why not. You need not worry about all the "teething" issues that always occur after major changes to the guidelines. Then, after two years when you go through ACLS again, everything should be well established, book and all.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I would concentrate on passing the NCLEX first. I had 6 months to get ACLS for my unit, and was able to take and pass the course about 2 months after I started as a RN.

Edited to add: I was also required to take a basic EKG class at work before ACLS - it was a big help.

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

I would say pass your nursing boards first then worry about ACLS. Unless you have a good cardiac background, ACLS requires a lot of studying.

[GilaRRT]

I would say pass your nursing boards first then worry about ACLS. Unless you have a good cardiac background, ACLS requires a lot of studying.

Not really. Many courses are now a day long and the emphasis is on basic life support. Even dysrhythmia interpretation is limited to shock versus do not shock. The pharmacology is limited and advanced airway management has been de-ephasised. You have a little about stroke and MI, but it's rather intuitive.