Chances of getting hired... will ACLS help?

[futuresctRN]

Hello all! :)

Before I begin, I know there's a lot of threads about this topic, and I have read all of them. I still am unsure. :)

Long story short, I am a new grad as of may 2015 with my BSN. I have a good chance at getting hired into a hospital that I love on a cardiac stepdown/telemetry unit. I am precepting there and my preceptor talked to the nurse manager about me and she said that when I pass boards to let her know and she will pull my application. I am seriously considering getting my ACLS before then as a way of really impressing the nurse manager when she looks at my resume. Do you think that it would? Will it help me get in there if there is already a good word put in for me? I'm not sure how it all works. I am willing to pay for it ($150-185 even though money is really tight) and work for it if it will help me get that job. I'm just wondering if it actually WILL. Please give me your pearls of wisdom, nurses!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

ACLS requires a good understanding of cardiac rhythms and requires you to quickly recognize and properly treat those rhythms. Will ACLS help you if the manager has other applicants with cardiac nursing experience? No, but if other applicants are new grads without ACLS, then yes.

[malamud69, BSN, RN]

Ill say/offer from my experience. It didn't hurt to already have it!

[Medic2BSN13, BSN, RN]

Agree with previous poster. It will take some time to learn cardiac rhythms and drugs, but you can do it. In short, yes, I think it would be beneficial comparing you to another new grad. If you have the time and resources PALS may also be helpful depending on what type of nursing you would like to do. Good luck!

[llg, PhD, RN]

It shouldn't help ... but it might help a little. If the hiring manager is smart, it won't make a difference. If she is not an experienced or very knowledgeable manager, she might let that influence her decision a bit.

Expert managers make their hiring decisions based on the quality of the person -- knowing that the brief ACLS course can easily be provided later, when the new grad is more ready to learn that more advanced material and integrate it into their practice. They know that they should choose the "high quality person" over someone of lesser quality who has paid some money and taken a brief class. The expert manager is not fooled into thinking that a single ACLS course makes for a better hire in the long run. And expert managers for the long term best fit -- and don't get distracted by temporary or superficial frills.

A manager who is not an expert manager might make such a mistake, though.

[michlynn, BSN, RN]

Highly doubtful and I know you said you're willing to pay the money but don't even bother. Once you're hired your facility will pay for it and most places don't require ACLS immediately after hire, they usually give you 6 months to a year to get it.

[Susie2310]

If one puts in the time and effort involved in learning to recognize basic EKG rhythms, which in my experience takes time and effort, and then puts in the time applying that knowledge to an ACLS course (which, to get the most out of it for first time takers requires a good amount of online pre-course assessment (AHA) and studying of the ACLS manual prior to the course), and one then takes ACLS (2 days of classes at the facilities that offer the course in my area, or hours of online coursework plus testing/mega code with an AHA instructor), I don't see why what one has learned (if one has really learned the material as well as one can the first time around) should not count favorably with some reputable hiring managers.

However, I would not approach taking ACLS from the point of view of impressing a hiring manager. I would suggest one takes it only if one plans to really make the effort to learn to recognize EKG rhythms prior to taking ACLS, and then plans to devote a significant amount of time to studying the ACLS manual etc. before the ACLS course, and then is prepared to spend significant time learning the ACLS material in class/online. None of this knowledge is quickly and easily obtained, so if one intends to approach taking ACLS as a "check the box" kind of activity, I would suggest not bothering, and waiting to see what one's employer wants one to do if one is hired.

[CamillusRN, BSN]

Does the hospital you're precepting in offer the course? If so, do they arrange a discounted rate for students? I took my first ACLS while in school (it was mandated for my academic program) through the major hospital in the area. They offered it at a reduced rate since the school was closely affiliated with the hospital.

To answer your question, getting your ACLS to increase your chances of getting hired may or may not work out for you (see the previous posts). If the cardiac unit requires ACLS (which I think all do), the hospital would probably pay for it after being hired. I got mine before graduation, but only because it was a school requirement. Wouldn't count on it alone for getting hired though - a well-rounded report from your clinical instructors about willingness to learn, excellent team spirit/leadership qualities, and an eagerness to get your hands dirty will take you a lot farther than a certification (depending on what prospects you're up against, of course). My advice: put your heart and soul into stellar clinical and academic performance and only go for the ACLS cert if you feel like it will increase your abilities a student. Just my two cents.