ACLS vs. BLS

[jjc1121]

Hi,

I am a little confused about ACLS and BLS. If I have an ACLS, do I need to get a separate BLS or does ACLS already cover that? My BLS will expire in a month.

[RN1982]

I'm jjust happy I have to recert my ACLS and BLS. I couldn't imagine having to take PALS, TNCC and PNCC.

[november17, ASN, RN]

I cannot pass ACLS or PALS without knowing BLS, so, stands to reason that if I can pass those coorifices, I must know BLS and shoudl be exepmpt from taking it. Alas, that is not the way it is in our hospital.

.

Don't some of the costs of taking the course revert back to the AHA? Seems like a good cause to me (to take two seperate courses and pay for them both). Plus you have to consider that some people that take the ACLS course rarely use their BLS skills so it's probably good to simply have the practice (even if it is on a mannequin).

[Vegas RN, MBA]

I am an American Heart Association BLS and ACLS Instructor, and in Nevada, hospitals require you to have both AHA BLS and ACLS.

One reason is that many providers (employees) choose to recert BLS one year, and ACLS the next, only requiring one mandatory class per year. This has worked out especially phenominally well when the guidelines changed to 2005 Standards, which became effective in June 2006.

More providers (employees) were certified in the new standard earlier than what they may have been if they certified both (BLS & ACLS) in the same year. At both my hospital and the College I teach for, we encouraged all ACLS providers recerting their BLS to take their ACLS recert earlier, and vice-versa, so we could all be on the same standard. This went over especially well as much AED research was based off what occured in our casinos with BLS providers using AED's.

I have worked in the ER forever, but now am in education, and I understand why we, as nurses, shouldn't have to have BLS if we have ACLS. However, unless someone works as an EMT-RN, ER RN or ICU RN, most ACLS providers rarely have the opportunity to provide even basic life support. I find that most Charge Nurses of Med/Surg floors, Respiratory Therapists, and RN's working in Cardiac Physician's offices are required to have this certification, but they rarely use it.

I actually believe that the AHA should make certification annually, unless one is employed in a critical care area. Most people think they "know it and can do it", but just last Friday I had a recerting Charge Nurse (in a MegaCode scenario) calling for early intubation. People seem to revert to what they KNEW, not what was taught. I stress in my classes: "We have to weigh the detrimental effects of stopping chest compressions to intubate against maintaining positive intrathoracic pressure". It takes providers that can think through each scenario to determine the appropriate action. That comes from experience and practice.

Since I'm an Educator, I suggest to take each class, question your instructor, and get the most out of it that you can. The last two days I was teaching an initial ACLS Cert course to Physician Assistant students, and a student told me "You have tought me so much. That's the biggest compliment someone can give another person. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me in a way I can understand".

That was a wonderful compliment and that's why I became in educator; to impart knowledge that I have had the opporunity to acquire onto those that can help give patients a better quality of life, and a better chance of survival.

The more opportunity anyone has to 'pretend' to save someone's life, the more likely one will recall it in reality. Practice makes perfect.

[november17, ASN, RN]

I actually believe that the AHA should make certification annually, unless one is employed in a critical care area.

I agree with this. I've always thought that's why the AHA had the oneup on the Red Cross. Most people take the AHA course because they only have to recert every 2 years instead of annually. If you don't use it, you lose it.

[sjt9721, BSN, RN]

Having all the different courses is not a source of revenue for the AHA. Actually, when you advertise for a course, you are required to declare that none of the funds collected are for the AHA. Course materials are purchased from distributors, not the AHA. And course registration fees go directly to whoever is hosting the course.

I have worked in the ER forever, but now am in education, and I understand why we, as nurses, shouldn't have to have BLS if we have ACLS.

Still...ACLS covers absolutely nothing related to infants & children.

I actually believe that the AHA should make certification annually...

Even though the AHA states their cards are good for 2 years, the Program Administration Manual clearly states that employers can require people to recert more often. BLS/ACLS/PALS gives you that once-every-two-years training in the classroom. Then as an educator, you could do "mock codes" quarterly (or more or less often) in the actual workplace setting. That would give people an opportunity to apply what they learned in your classroom.

I think it's great you're getting good feedback from course attendees! I'm an ER nurse turned Educator as well. :wink2:

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I took mine online with the ACLS Certification Institute - www.aclscertification.com - and BLS wasn't a pre-req for ACLS. Has anyone tried to get BLS online? I'm thinking of doing that, but most people at my hospital take the BLS class in person.

I'm surprised that people would pay that much money for a non-AHA ACLS course. I would not be able to turn in that card to my employer with a straight face. Every time that I've had a work requirement for ACLS or PALS, I have understood it to mean the AHA versions of those classes.