Certifications/Continuing Education

[springgarden]

I am still looking for a full time RN job.

I was thinking getting the First Aid certification might help and I think some states require RNs to have First Aid. My state does not.

It is $80 and 4 hours class...so will it help?

Also, I was looking through a Nursing magazine and it had a Continuing Education 1 hour 'class' in it. I answered the questions and returned it with $8 to get the CE.

Will it help to get the CE?

Also should I get ACLS certification on my own?

Is BLS the same as the CPR all RNs carry?

Thanks

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Employers do not really look at CEU's, that is more for your state BON. Employers like to see certifications such as BLS (which is usually a given for any position), ACLS (most employers will require you to be ACLS-certified within 6 months of being hired while some make it a requirement before you get hired), PEARS/PALS/NRP, TNCC, or certifications related to your field. I work in progressive care, so a good certification for that would be a PCCN certification. for ICU nurses, CCRN. PCCN and CCRN typically require a certain number of hours to qualify to sit for the exam - typically those hours equal up to a full year of experience.

If your state does not require the First Aid certification, I wouldn't get it. Employers may notice it, but chances are they won't.

As for ACLS, that course is expensive. Make sure you go through the AHA and if you decide to do it online, make sure it is AHA-certified. If you do it online, you will still have to locate an AHA ACLS-certified instructor in your area to do your skills test, which includes the BLS skills and the ACLS Megacode test, plus do the written exam. You need to have a current BLS certification to take ACLS, and you need to be comfortable with arrhythmia identification and interpretation because ACLS does not focus on teaching them, only how to treat. Most employers will offer an ACLS course free of charge or at very little cost to you. If you do decide to do it on your own, a future employer may offer reimbursement.