AHA BLS vs. Red Cross CPR

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Hello all,

I am a student hoping to enter a BSN program early next year. I currently work as a unit secretary, and hope to transfer to a nurse aide position soon since I just finished STNA training. My question is this- I can take a free American Red Cross CPR class, or pay to take American Heart's BLS class. Which one should I take? The nursing school I hope to go to accepts both- but is there one that is better than the other?

Thanks, and have a good day! :cool:

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I'm not sure where you live but I currently live Southern California and am moving back home to Virginia soon. I know that in both of the areas that I've worked (also as a unit secretary) and the nursing programs I've looked at, require the AHA BLS class. To be honest I'm not quite sure of the reasoning behind it, but I believe it's because the AHA course is a "Healthcare with AED" provider course (at least the one I had to take for my job was).

If I were you I would take the AHA course, even though it may cost you $50 or so.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

A Red Cross BLS course, for it to "count" it would have to be at the same level as the AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers. I believe that one's called "Professional Rescuer" in the AHA. It's also a 2 year cert, instead of the 1 year cert that it used to be. They're supposed to be basically interchangeable and cover the same info. Red Cross follows the AHA on this standard, from what I recall.

The other thing is to check with your employer and program and determine what specific course they require. They may require and accept ONLY the AHA HCP cert and nothing else from any other provider, even if the courses are identical in all respects except name of the certifying body...

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