ACLS training!

Published

Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology/Telemetry/ICU.

Okay, I have to do ACLS for my job that I just started and I'm terrified!! It all looks so hard! Course I haven't had my basic EKG strip reading classes yet so that may not be helping, but STILL!!!

Any advice on taking the class/absorbing all the info, etc would be much appreciated!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Definitely make sure that you have some basic EKG interpretation under your belt before ACLS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Yes you need to know ekg before ACLS. Just know your rythms and algorithms and it won't be bad. Good Luck. Are they making you do it right away, they should give you some time like 6 months-1 year imho.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology/Telemetry/ICU.
yes you need to know ekg before acls. just know your rythms and algorithms and it won't be bad. good luck. are they making you do it right away, they should give you some time like 6 months-1 year imho.

yeah, i just got hired in june and started on the floor july 3rd and the class is september 3-4. i'm hoping the ekg class will help a lot cause i don't remember too much from school! :uhoh21:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Hi! I just took my ACLS recertification last week and there were a couple of pharmacists in my class who did not know rhythms and they did just fine. You only really need to recognize some very basic lethal rhythms. (V tach/V fib/aystole/bradycardia/SVT/PEA) and whether these rhythms have a pulse or not and if the person is symptomatic.

BLS (basic life support) and the new CPR recommendations are stressed these days. The AHA no longer requires BLS certification as a prerequisite to ACLS as it covered in ACLS. There is a new focus on compressions, doing them faster, and with fewer pauses for other interventions. There is less focus on shocking. ACLS is very interactive and you work as a team when you are simulating code situations. Part of the test at the end is being the leader of the code, assigning duties to 'your' team and calling out interventions in the proper sequence and timing. This is NOT as difficult as it seems, because you have practiced and been coached through it before the testing. It is actually very fun and you will do just fine.

Don't worry, they will step you through it, and give you lots of leeway and leading questions about what is happening when you are simulating your "mega code". ACLS used to be notoriously difficult but the focus has changed to make it less intimidating so that we are more confident when a real code situation does arrive.

You already passed nursing school and the NCLEX, this will be a breeze and a fun time as well. And it is training that you will see the benefits to immediately, with your own sense of some skill in the event of a code.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
www.acls.net/aclsalg.htm. this is a really good site! i am using it to help me prepare for acls. good luck
Up Vote Up Vote ×

We nurses are very dynamic, we were trained right from the start to adapt to the many changes that our profession will encounter. We had time to search deep into us to be able to be confident enough to face these changes.ACLS trainings are no exception to this, by focusing on the goal of saving people's lives, these will help us face the challenge of the course. Focus dear colleague and we will surely make it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion