ACLS in telemetry or intermediate care units

[cardiacnurse9063]

What are your hospital or unit policies or norms for the percentage of ACLS nurses on any given shift when ACLS is required for your unit.

For example, I manage a 12 bed intermediate care unit. ACLS is required for my nurses. When we have sick calls the float pool nurses that cover the unit do not have ACLS. I'm wondering if there are other units in this same situation and what percentage of non-ACLS trained nurses would be appropriate and safe for patient care?

Thanks!

[tridil2000, MSN, RN]

Yes, we have the same problem. We like to maintain a 50% ACLS ready staff at all times though.

You should approach whomever organizes the pool to ask that nurses who want to do tele get ACLS though.

Good luck-

T

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

this may depend on trauma designation, if any.

In our facility (Level III trauma) we have all critical care nurses ACLS certified. Also all perioperative. We also require all charge nurses of any area. Other nurses are encouraged but not required. I am not sure that is sufficient, but the rapid response team is ALL ACLS/PALS certified.

[JJGRN]

In our hospital, all new critical care nurses must have ACLS within the first year of hire, experienced nurses should have on hire. Since we have this policy in effect in all critical care areas, when staff are floated to other units, we're covered. The only exception is that occassionally telemetry will use a med/surg nurse, but the monitor tech is responsible for interpreting the strips, and the charge nurse co-signs them.

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

Med Surg, Tele, OR, ER, CCU and ICU are all required to have ACLS. I believe that the OB nurses even have to have it.