I am renewing my BLS, but should I also get ACLS certified as a new nurse. I am floating to different floors that do have telemetry monitor. Anyone have any suggestion for me as a new nurse?
Tweety, BSN, RN 32,738 Posts Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac. Has 31 years experience. Jun 9, 2008 Not a bad idea, but only if your comfortable reading rhythm strips, otherwise you'd be lost. You might want to take a telemetry course first, and then ACLS. Good luck!
Virgo_RN, BSN, RN 3,543 Posts Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED. Jun 11, 2008 Find out if ACLS is required for you. On my floor, ACLS is a requirement for core staff, though I'm not convinced that those who float there are required to have it.
kelbh 12 Posts Jun 13, 2008 I'm about to start work on a Cardiovascular Surgical Unit, and what they expect is that we will become ACLS-certified within two years of hire, and they recommend we don't even bother trying until after our first year (unless we're doing exceptionally well). I was told that there's just too much other stuff to learn in a critical care unit as a new grad to worry about it right now. Made sense to me!
november17, ASN, RN 1 Article; 980 Posts Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla. Has 9 years experience. Jun 13, 2008 ACLS class is a good thing to take. I don't think there is a really a "vs" here. I'd recommend it for anyone. Learn the tele strips well first!!!!
racing-mom4, BSN, RN 2 Articles; 1,446 Posts Specializes in ICU/ER. Jun 13, 2008 I took ACLS as a new grad and was completely overwhelmed during my mega code. Did fine on the written test--but when a patient is crashing there is no written test!!!I passed but I dont really know how, in fact I still say I am an ACLS phoney. Anyways--point being...it is good to have and to go through and I think I will learn more when it is time to re-cert. Kind of like a Drivers lic, most people have them but some people are better drivers than others.
RosesrReder, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN 8,478 Posts Has 21 years experience. Jun 21, 2008 I agree that its a good thing to have. I got my ACLS today and I've been a nurse 8 months. The course is intense but I enjoyed it.
