ACLS...

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I'm thinking about getting ACLS certified, & was wondering if any LPN's here have it? What's the course like? Is it hard? Any good materials out there to prepare for it? I've never taken it before, and would like to get it. I thought it might look good on resumes and help land future jobs.

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I am a LPN and work in the ER I am ACLS certified and it was a little hard but you can do it !!!:yeah:

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Specializes in SNF, 2 year s hospital.

I will be taking the class ACLS class next wednesday and I was wondering the same thing? I thought it would look nice on my resume and I will be going into the nursing program. My friend that is already an RN will be taking it with me:yeah: My job gave a pre-study guide so ive been looking over it.

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Specializes in LTAC, Wound Care, Case Management.

I'm an LPN and work in critical care. I have ACLS. It's a difficult course, but passable. The experience will come from actually doing it, as with much of nursing. It's definitely looks great on your resume.

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Thanks for everyone's replies. I plan on taking it soon. I recently got my BLS card renewed. The instructor that renewed that, said to let him know when I wanted to take ACLS, & he could get me a seat in an upcoming class. Looking forward to taking it, & hoping I pass it!

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Specializes in thoracic ICU, ortho/neuro, med/surg.

I am an LPN and I have ACLS, too. I work in critical care; if you work in my unit you have to go to ACLS, it's required. I agree it was difficult but passable. Experience will help most!

Good luck with your class! You'll do great!

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Specializes in SNF, 2 year s hospital.

:heartbeat My ACLS class was today and it was great! Very informative and the instructor was very nice! A lot of the LPNs were afraid to take it at my job but it was the right decision for me

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Specializes in LTC, AL, Corrections, Home health.

I am glad I came across this. I am currently in a bridge program and was thinking about doing this myself just to give me an edge as a new grad RN, plus my 3 yrs LPN experience, every little bit helps, right?:D

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Specializes in ER.

I agree that experience in codes or critical care is the single biggest factor in passing the course. There is a lot of content.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

It was rigorous but the instructor was great.

- You rec'v a book.

- You watch BLS videos as a refresher.

- You perform CPR.

- You watch ACLS videos.

- You do mock codes and I don't like performing in front of anyone. I hate that, in face.

- You take a test.

Only thing I didn't like about it - I still get heated whenever I think about it: The RNs in the class basically squeezed me out of the way when it came time to do the mock code. I was the 2nd one up there - had already positioned myself at the dummies chest - because I was nearest to the dummy and that's how I learn best: Hands on.

I HATE 'performing' skills in front of a class but some of us don't learn via 'observation' and I'm one of them. I've got to perform an act to learn how to do it properly.

But, they overlooked and picked each other over me as though I wasn't a part of it or didn't have the sense to be a functional member of the team. I'm standing right there but you're going to elect someone else to do compressions? I can get somewhat ... feisty (LOL) but I'm not a 'woe is me/everyone's picking me' type of person. I don't play "victim" but, in truth, they were shoving me to the side BECAUSE I was an LVN. It really ticked me off, too.

Of course, two were ICU so they're probably unaccustomed to dealing with LVNs ANYWAY. LOL Yet, two of them were RN "new grads". That was the biggest rub for obvious reasons.

Like, they'd just taken NCLEX. Give me a break! LOL I just thought to myself, like, "What the *bleep* -- really!? You 'brand new' b---es don't even have jobs!" LOL

...and it's ironic because you guys know as well as I that they're probably the same ones complaining all day long about how providers are so dismissive of them and don't consider their insight and blah, blah, blah, etc... because they're RNs. Yet, look at how those RNs treated a fellow nurse.

But, whatever.

After two instances of being snubbed, I just said to myself, "Y'know what? *Bleep* it. I'll just take the test and be done with it." It'd been a long, tiring day so I just let it ride. I worked my way down to the foot of the dummy to observe while they conversed with themselves.

Didn't say another word until the instructor asked me to lead a code scenario. So, I did.

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.

I used to have it when I was still working in critical care, but let it expire when I retired. Now I work as a substitute assistant school nurse and there is absolutely no need for me to have it and I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket. I do not believe that it is very useful to have it if one does not work in settings where you apply the knowledge and use the skills. All of our critical care nurses had to have ACLS, if they were RNs or LPNs. The same with ER and PACU. If there was a code on the floor, the floor nurses would generally bag and do compressions while the resident would be the one to push the meds until the code team arrived, at which point they would assume care of the patient simply because they did it on a regular basis (code team was the PICU charge nurse, nursing supervisor, someone from respiratory, pharmacy and intensivist or ICU resident or fellow). Therefore, most of the floor nurses were not ACLS certified as the code team was extremely proficient while the codes on the floor were uncommon.

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

A couple things:

Yes, it looks good on a resume. Some jobs require it for LVNs or within a certain amount of time after hire. Even if the job doesn't require it, it's something to highlight you in a pool of the other 20 applicants.

On difficulty: Get the book. Read the book BEFORE class. Understand it. Don't show up on day one expecting to learn everything. There are online resources that the book mentions. Use them. Learn them. Make arrhythmia flash cards and med flash cards. Study them. If you do that, you'll be fine.

A while back I used to be an ACLS instructor at a hospital as an LVN teaching advanced arrhythmia and airway mostly. And mostly to MDs and RNs. So don't worry about it being too hard because you're an LVN or anything like that. Just come to class prepared, and you should be fine.

As far as materials: RENT the book on Amazon. It'll be under 20 bucks, with shipping, to rent for a few months. In the book there are links to online resources. The book is NOT like it used to be. It does NOT have everything you need to know. Some of that is in the online resources. So make sure you use those as well.

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