Basic Life support vs. advanced life support

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hello everyone, new here . I 'd like anyones opinion on this one. I recently started to work in a new hospital, my BLS was current when I started , I have just recently renewed my ACLS, good for another 2 years. One day I came to work and I was told I can't work that day cause my BLS just expired. I have argued with the nurse educator for a while about it but eventually went home after they found a replacement for me..Not that it was forgotten, I have scheduled to renew it,only the renewal date is 2 weeks after it has expired. Is there a law that says " you can't work if your BLS is expired? What about my ACLS ,doesn't that count ,that I can do basic CPR being certified in it? Do I have to have both to work?

Or can I have either or....??? i would appreciate any input about this subject..

Thank you all in advanced...

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Yes, one could be suspended without a current BLS. Where I work you must have a current BLS to work, even if you are ACLS certified. I think that is the new requirement/trend since there are new updates/changes often and that is why you are told to renew early in order to avoid suspension. Sorry this happened to you.

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
hello everyone, new here . I 'd like anyones opinion on this one. I recently started to work in a new hospital, my BLS was current when I started , I have just recently renewed my ACLS, good for another 2 years. One day I came to work and I was told I can't work that day cause my BLS just expired. I have argued with the nurse educator for a while about it but eventually went home after they found a replacement for me..Not that it was forgotten, I have scheduled to renew it,only the renewal date is 2 weeks after it has expired. Is there a law that says " you can't work if your BLS is expired? What about my ACLS ,doesn't that count ,that I can do basic CPR being certified in it? Do I have to have both to work?

Or can I have either or....??? i would appreciate any input about this subject..

Thank you all in advanced...

Technically, should something adverse happen and it was found out that your CPR card wasn't "current" during a code - your hospital could pay out REGARDLESS of your years of experience doing CPR. As we all know, BLS and ALS are NOT the same, and it is considered an absolute minimum that everyone be at least BLS certified. So the answer to your question is NO, ACLS doesn't count, because it doesn't focus on CPR or other basic but necessary lifesaving skills. Without the BLS, ALS isn't any good anyway.

vamedic4

Oh, and my facility suspends those who's CPR isn't current also. No CPR= no work.

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Specializes in OR.

Agree No CPR= no work... it is your responsibility to ensure you keep this current. Our facility provides the training and time and we try to get everyone in groups at specific times rather than randomly. ACLS is not required in our specific department however, it is required in other departments. Hopefully, a good educator would have come to you prior to expiration and would have worked with you on the issue.

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Yes you have to have BLS, ACLS doesn't have you practice CPR skills or make you prove that you can do it. Yes you have to show a current card.

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