BCLS

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Ok... this maybe a really silly question but I am hoping someone can help me out...

I am a certified CPR instructor.... does this mean I can kind of "by-pass" the bcls course and take a test and be done or do I still have to take the BCLS course??

I only ask this becuase I have recently passed my NCLEX and I am putting applications in essentially everywhere and I want to be the canidate for hiring that "stands out" in a way.

I am aware that the bcls course is more in depth than a CPR course but does being an intructor for CPR make a difference?

Thanks

LJ:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Depends upon who your instructor status is through. If it's Red Cross, you need to contact your chapter where you got your card and ask. If it's American Heart, I can tell you Heartsaver instructor status doesn't allow you to not have to go through the BLS coursework. However, American heart now has BLS online...you do the practical online then find a training center that will then test you out. It's actually pretty easy and not that time consuming.

Heartsaver status in AHA isn't the same as BLS..basically, bag-mask ventilation isn't covered in heartsaver and the pulse check is eliminated for lay people where in BLS the pulse check is still included. Choking also may or may not have been covered in Heartsaver, depends upon the class.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks! it is through aha. i was just trying to save a little time and money but i want to be ahead of the game and the new grad with that extra something!! and who knows, maybe they will reimburse me!?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment