ECG & Pharmacology course

[MissBrittanyRN]

I am a new grad RN and would like to become ACLS certified. I have been told by a few experienced RNs that I should be on the floor for a year or so before taking ACLS, as I may I understand it better. Because it's so hard to find work right now, I want to make myself as marketable as possible, so I think I am going to go ahead and take ACLS now. The American Heart Association highly recommends that first time ACLS students take an EKG and Pharm. class first, which is probably a good idea for me anyway, as my nursing school barely touched on cardiac drugs or rhythms. The AHA website has a course locator specifically for ECG/Pharm. and although it yeilds results, each place that I call says that they either don't offer it anymore, never have, never will, i have been misinformed, etc. I plan on letting AHA know that these institutions are not offering the class, but does anyone out there know where I CAN take it? I live in Maryland, but I am willing to go to any of the bordering states for the course. Thanks!

[Mblue1334]

Hey -

I was like you, and I was terrified of ACLS. I wanted to take the Prep course too, but I couldn't find one. I did contact a CNA EKG instructor (Cardiac RN) and for $50 she sat with me and went through all the rhythms - I was so nervous that I was way.... overly prepared! She laughed at how much I had studied!

I actually finished a 2-day ACLS course with Criticalconceptsusa.com (a large FL co) and we DIDN'T even do a Mega-code, and we did a GROUP test! This was my class - it's possible they aren't all this way obviously.

I COULDN'T believe it! This class was $200 and 2 days, so I thought that I was taking a thorough class - the instructor was a flight RN so she was VERY knowledgeable, but there was just NO hands on experience... I was pretty disappointed. I'm a new nurse and I really wish there had been more personal interaction - not just group. 3/4's of the class were MD's, who had NO idea what the algorithms were, so that in itself was disturbing!! She just asked the class some questions about the algorithms, so that was our Code I guess....

I understand that in a code there is a team effort - but it would have been helpful to have had the Code & get feedback. I'm sure most would think I'm crazy for complaining, but I really need this knowledge for my unit.

My advice is - STUDY, STUDY for your own knowledge, but from my experience, and from what I've been told it's NOT that bad. Also, several course providers told me that the Self Assessments on the AHA CD are much more difficult than the real test - so if you can pass those you will be fine.

GOOD LUCK! You will be fine!