Certifications

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When I look at some open positions I see that they require that you have PALS, ACLS, and other certifications. Can I get these certifications during my senior year of school or do I need my RN license to get hem. Thanks

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

I think you can get them as long as you are a healthcare provider. I got my BLS as a requirement for hire. The ACLS and PALS I can take for free now that I am employed at the hospital. The classes are expensive so be prepared.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

You may probably take them once you graduate, but they won't mean much to you without some background understanding of what they're for. There's a lot that the courses expect the candidate to already know and they contain a lot of very complex information that you'll need to apply in emergent situations without having to think it all through first. But by all means, take them if you think they'll get your foot in the door.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Most times you can get them where you work..and your unit will pay!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Most times you can get them where you work..and your unit will pay!

Not where I work. If we want to improve our employability, our skills or our knowledge base, we do it on our own time on our own dime. Our manager won't even grant time off to attend PALS or ENPC, we have to make shift trades to be able to go. And then they cancel the course so the poor person ends up working their butt off to have the course weekend free and doesn't even get the carrot at the end.

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Specializes in IMCU.

Good question. Thanks.

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I am currently a tech at a hospital and a nursing assistant at a nursing home. Would that help me in undertanding the material.

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

most of my graduating class took ACLS & PALS prior to getting our licenses, I skipped PALS as I prefer adult pts on med/surg lol I didn't take with the gung ho let's run a code mentality, I wanted a base knowledge so that in the event I had to call a code on a pt I had some clue of what they were doing and why, most likely when I'm up for renewal next summer, I'll opt to retake the entire course just to be sure I understand it all better.

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.

Take NRP, PALS and ACLS when your out of school. If your not busy, ie summer break then you can take it. It is a lot of info to learn!

I took NRP when I was still in nursing school as a requirement for my internship program in labor and delivery. It was free by the hospital I worked for. If you take it outside, it really expensive $200+. If you can take it with a hospital that will train you for free, then that woud be better.

You could take those courses so that you can be more competitive when apply for new grad RN job. Many of my classmates have done that. I did not do this and I was able to get a job in med-surg/oncology. I do plan to take the other PALS and ACLS if I decided to specalize in the future. Again check with the job your applying for. Sometimes you may need it before you apply or they will train you.

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