BLS or ACLS?

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Specializes in EC, IMU, LTAC.

I just graduated from an RN program, and I have to renew my CPR and AED certification. I always took Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare providers in the past, but I saw Advanced Cardiopulmonary Life Support on the American Heart Association website as well. Will BLD do just fine, or should I shell out big bucks to do the ACLS? Thanks!

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

ACLS always looks good on a resumé, but lots of nurses stick with BLS and are ok. AED cert comes with CPR cert, if I'm not mistaken.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Cardiology.

ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and BLS (Basic Life Support) are two different certifications. ACLS does not take the place of BLS.

I need to have both on the cardiac stepdown floor where I work. At my hospital, everyone who has any kind of patient contact must have their BLS certification. To my understanding only ICU's, stepdowns and the ED need to have ACLS where I work, although nurses in other areas can take ACLS if they want to.

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You must have a valid BLS (AKA CPR) card in order to take ACLS.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Your facility may require both, but I can almost guarantee they will want you to have Healthcare Provider (BLS).

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Specializes in neuro, ICU/CCU, tropical medicine.

No one expects a new grad to complete ACLS. It's a lot to learn, and as a new grad, you already have enough on your plate. Besides, BLS is the most important part of ACLS.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

There's no reason not to advance your knowledge if you're ready for it. I've had to be ACLS for years and I'm not even out of school yet. Frankly, I think it should be a requirement for nurses to work in acute care.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

You might want to take a basic ECG interpretation course prior to tacking ACLS. You have to be able to identify arrhythmias. And like was said you can't take ACLS without first having BLS.

If you haven't taken NCLEX yet, don't try to tackle too much at once and stick with BLS for now.

Good luck in your careers. Nursing is a never ending education! And you thought you'd graduated.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

I agree with some of the earlier posts,.take your BLS now (your employer should pay for this) then when you start working find out if it's required,.where I work it's required for all tele floors, ICU,ER,OR,and endoscopy. If it's required, the hospital should pay for it.

How can one take ACLS while being a student? The basic difference in BLS and ACLS is all the drugs,..I guess you could take the class as an observer.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

My entire graduating class is taking ACLS right after our pinning, the week before pinning we have a 6 hour rhythm recognition and code pharmacology course, there is a paramedic program at our school and we convinced them to set up a class just for us, less pressure when the entire class is at the same level vs. EMT's and paramedics and nurses who could run codes in their sleep running circles around us lol

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If I were you, I would go for the ACLS, as others said, it better for you and looks better on your resume.

good luck

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