BLS or CPR/AED

[oscarfarnacio]

Hi everyone, I had just recently passed my nclex-rn, and I was wondering what most hospitals ask for when applying..do they look for the BLS or CPR/AED certificate? I went on the AHA website and saw both courses available, and was wondering which one I should apply for since their course description looks somewhat similar? Is there any advantage over the other? I am also wondering if I should do get my ACLS and PALS, is that a good idea also while looking for a job? Thank you guys!

[One2gofst]

Everything healthcare related that I am familiar with has required AHA and only AHA. Sorry.

[GoodNP]

As a previous poster stated, I would wait and do BLS through your employer - on their budget, and while you are on the clock. And even though you are a new grad, I would recommend ACLS as well. It helps not just in codes, but also in "pre-code" situations.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Everything healthcare related that I am familiar with has required AHA and only AHA. Sorry.

No need to apologize- my school accepted either so I was surprised my employer only wanted AHA. I just wasn't sure if this was common or not and was curious. They told me when I scheduled my interview that I needed the AHA and I had myself in a course in two days.

The main difference I noticed was that ARC teaches blows to the back in addition to abdominal thrusts for choking and AHA only had us do abdominal thrusts. Otherwise, they were pretty much the same.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Hi everyone, I had just recently passed my nclex-rn, and I was wondering what most hospitals ask for when applying..do they look for the BLS or CPR/AED certificate?

How could you have gone through nursing school without BLS? I thought it was required to do clinicals. BLS class was, I think, the very first thing we did when we started nursing school.

ETA: Sorry, didn't read the whole thread first.

[NnSweets]

I was told specifically NOT to get ACLS as a new grad. An instructor that teaches it says it puts you into an awkward situation of being expected and even obligated to be able to function at a high level in a code situation. Do you want that responsibility as a new grad?

The instructor said it was a good idea to get a feel for codes by trying to be the person who records everything that happens during the code. This will give you the best understanding of what is going on and prepare you for ACLS.

[newtress, LPN]

Does anyone know the different expirations on the AHA BLS/AED for healthcare providers? I thought it was annually and in some states it's every two. And I don't know if your card is valid in all 50 states or not?

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I was told specifically NOT to get ACLS as a new grad. An instructor that teaches it says it puts you into an awkward situation of being expected and even obligated to be able to function at a high level in a code situation. Do you want that responsibility as a new grad?

The instructor said it was a good idea to get a feel for codes by trying to be the person who records everything that happens during the code. This will give you the best understanding of what is going on and prepare you for ACLS.

I had one nurse manager tell me that and I let myself be convinced because I wanted to spend the money on a Kindle instead (I got some graduation money from family and went with TOYS instead of professional development). Having ACLS as a new grad has definitely been a benefit to my classmates who went and got it, and for a local new grad program, the ones with ACLS were the ones who got selected to interview in the emergency department.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

I worked at the Red Cross (and got my certification through them) and when I started school they made me take the AHA class. Actually my Red Cross class was a lot more hands on, we actually had to breathe through a mask into the mannequin and make the chest rise and fall. With my AHA class we just said breathe, breathe for the breaths. I also had to take a written test with Red Cross in order to get my card. The school said we have to have AHA because that is what the hospitals require and they want everyone taught the same way?

All of that depends on how liberal the instructor is. When I was actively working as a paramedic, I renewed my AHA cert. one day sitting on a couch next to an instructor. We were watching 3000 Miles to Graceland, and he mentioned that he was going to be holding a class. I said put my name on the roster. He said something to the effect of "Ok, what's the ratio for two man adult CPR?" I told him, and he said I'll bring you your card next week.

That said, I've taken CPR refreshers where I had to do EVERYTHING, and I most recently took one where it was about what you'd expect for a renewal.

With regards to ARC, I worked for a park service agency once that trained all of its officers (rangers) as medical first responders due to their combined law enforcement and rescue mission. We had our own in-house instructional team, and when we reviewed for the test the instructor gave us all of the answers and then left the room during the test. If you'd written them down you could use the answers or your neighbor. Note: I only sat through that course to see what my coworkers were learning although I did take and pass the tests and get certified, lol. I already had my AHA BLS and ACLS cards as well as National Registry EMT-Paramedic certifications.

The reality of it all is that at the level of CPR and even first responder training you're not going to do enough harm by not knowing enough so failing a test, which the vast majority of people won't do anyway, doesn't really mean a whole lot due to the limited scope of operations. I, like many, believe that bad CPR is better than no CPR.

That's all just the opinion of ImThatGuy. Push hard. Push fast.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

All of that depends on how liberal the instructor is. When I was actively working as a paramedic, I renewed my AHA cert. one day sitting on a couch next to an instructor. We were watching 3000 Miles to Graceland, and he mentioned that he was going to be holding a class. I said put my name on the roster. He said something to the effect of "Ok, what's the ratio for two man adult CPR?" I told him, and he said I'll bring you your card next week.

When I found out I had to get the AHA cert, my husband offered to have one of his instructor friends "get" me a card so I wouldn't have to take and pay for the class. I thought it sounded awfully sketchy and dishonest, so opted to actually take the class.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Just out of curiosity, what sort of nursing would you like to specialize in, OP? There are certain units that do require you to have both ACLS and PALS, but the hospital will pay for this if they require it. Congrats on passing the NCLEX!

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

When I found out I had to get the AHA cert, my husband offered to have one of his instructor friends "get" me a card so I wouldn't have to take and pay for the class. I thought it sounded awfully sketchy and dishonest, so opted to actually take the class.

If you're taking it for the first time then by all means take the class. You ought to, and that should be expected of anyone. I agree. If you're someone who never does CPR or even sees it done then the refresher is good to have. If you're someone who does it a lot like ER nurses, ICU nurses, paramedics, etc. then I really think being handed a card is fine. I wouldn't have any reservations about doing that if I were an instructor and knew worked with the person.

[newtress, LPN]

I'd still like to know if the AHA bls/cpr card has to be renewed each year as some show every 2 on the card and is your card good in all 50 states?