Can someone please breakdown BCLS vs the CPR (needed for nursing school) & ACLS??

yikib38 · Jun 2, 2011

Here's the breakdown.. BCLS= basic cardiac life support (this is the old abbreviation for what is now called BLS).. BLS= basic life support, it includes basic CPR- BLS for the Healthcare Provider includes basic CPR and AED training.. Now after you get BLS for HCP certified you want to get.. ACLS= advanced cardiac life support, this provides advanced training to the HCP (how to read cardiac monitor, cardiac drugs to administer during a code, etc..) the training you receive in ACLS is to be used in a facility where BLS can be used in a public setting or anywhere there is an AED. Hope this helps! I will be taking these courses in a few weeks..so excited!

resumecpr · Jun 2, 2011

The above poster is on the money. However, ACLS is difficult if you have no work experience. If you want to work in an ED, then wait until you are hired, watch every code you can, then take ACLS. Most hospitals will hire without ACLS, but require it within 6 months to a year of employment in a critical care area.

Best of luck my fellow Canadian!

Black Jade, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2011

You need BCLS pretty much in every type of nursing where you have patient contact and you need to use your clinical skills. You need ACLS where you have high acuity patients such as in areas of telemetry, ICU, ER or Urgent Care.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 2, 2011

Once you've been through ACLS a couple of times, it will start to "feel" like a merit-badge course. It's not that hard. Think of it as a somewhat systematic means of treating lethal arrhythmias.

As to whether or not you can take ACLS without being licensed, ask the training center that you'll be taking the course through. If you're license is pending, they should allow you to take it, but know that if you do not get the license, it'll essentially be a worthless piece of paper until you do get a license that will let you use the knowledge and skills directly.

As to why ACLS/PALS/NRP isn't normally taught in school, it's because those are courses you take on your own that your schooling should have given a good foundation for understanding the information you would need. Basically, unless you're going to be an ICU/ED (or other high acuity unit) nurse, you won't need ACLS. I would imagine that most floors expect the nurse to start CPR, hook up the AED, alert the Code Team, and just keep things in a holding pattern until the team gets there.

j621d · Jun 2, 2011

I agree with resumecpr to wait until after being hired and to watch codes in progress. Once you are hired, and you get some experience, then you can study for ACLS. I would wait at least 1 year before ACLS, only because you will have so much to learn in your new position.

For ACLS you will need to interpret cardiac rhythms. You could buy a book to learn this on your own, but that may not be the best way. If your facility offers this type of class, take advantage of it. As a new grad you will not be expected to have ACLS.

My advice is to get into a position and work towards getting into a more acute area, learn cardiac rhythms and then with that experience get your ACLS certification. Good luck!!