ALS and ATLS, both needed for CCU nurse?

Editorial Team / Admin · Jun 16, 2017

It may not even be that it's variable by state but that it's variable by employer.

jake5497 · Jun 17, 2017

Yep agency dependent. For this reason i put "ect" in my question. Your my first comment. Thanks Rose Queen!

Editorial Team / Admin · Jun 17, 2017

I would expect that any critical unit is going to require ACLS (assuming that's what you meant by ALS). I can only imagine that only units accepting trauma patients would require ATLS. My facility has a separate ICU for any non-trauma patients and another for just trauma patients. The only ones required to have ATLS are the nurses in the trauma ICU and the ER.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jun 17, 2017

Welcome to allnurses.com

Thread moved to CCU forum to generate even more replies.

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Jun 17, 2017

Basic ACLS is what most places will want/require. Anything above and beyond that is just nice to have. TNCC, ATLS, CCRN/CMC/CSC certifications if you already have critical care experience etc. Most hospitals require ACLS for critical care environments so they will usually put you through it on hiring.

jake5497 · Jun 19, 2017

Great that helps a lots!

hoekan01 · Jul 21, 2017

In our mixed critical care unit, we were required to have BLS and ACLS. After some time there, we had to take a trauma class of some kind (TNCC or TCAR). We weren't required to take ATLS. If you have a choice of TNCC or TCAR, I'd go for TCAR. TNCC was good, but more applicable to the ER. It was neat to learn about what the patient goes through before they got to us in the unit, but the cares didn't really apply.

AceOfHearts<3 · Jul 22, 2017

The system my hospital is in has actually developed their own approved trauma course for nurses. I went through it on orientation.