ACLS, only a week to study

[ava'smomRN]

i am freaking out and thinking of rescheduling. I am a new nurse in the PACU and thought that I would be able to borrow the units book for the class. our ACLS study books are MIA. I am planning on buying a book today and studying, i have the ACLS 2 day course next week. my coworkers all say that i will be fine, but i dont think i have enough time to study... what do you all think?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Don't freak. As I posted earlier, this is the kinder, gentler era of ACLS. :) People don't usually leave crying anymore! Ha ha. That's not to say it's easy, or don't prepare for it -- read the book, do the practice exam. Good instructors will help you piece it together. Good luck!

[CNL2B]

Where I work, they give you a book pre-class (has to be returned) to study from and require that you do a 50 question multiple choice pre-test prior to coming, so you are prepared. ACLS does require some degree of preparedness to get anything out of it as they can't cover the entire book during the class period. So yes, prepare, but these days, the instructors really try to get you through the process and to a successful pass at the end. It's really only if you don't get it at all and don't know any of the algorithms and can't explain your role in an ACLS code that you wouldn't pass. That's not many people. Keep in mind that in a hospital these days, generally speaking, there are many that respond to a code blue so you would never be alone running one. My classes and re-certs have all pretty much been focused that way and on your ability to participate according to your licensure level.