EKG training and ACLS

[MistyDawnRN06]

Hey all!

I'm a recent grad, passed boards, and hired into an SICU. The training program seems a bit backward. I'm working with my preceptor for 3 month, which means I'll be on my own in August. The hospital isn't planning to put me into EKG training until August and won't ACLS certify me or put me in a critical care course for a year. Totally flipping backwards right?!

Anyway I was wondering if anyone had done an online EKG course? If so, which one and would you recommend it? How about ACLS?

Many thanks!!!!!

I want to cover my butt since I have a license to protect. If my hospital won't train me in a timely fashion, I'll find a way to do it myself!!

Thanks again!

Misty Dawn

[RNScott]

I guess I am fortunate because I am a new grad working in the SICU. I will be out of orientation on April 4th. I have already had the EKG class and become ACLS certified. Both classes really helped my understanding of what to do in certain situations.

[NurseSnarky]

mistydawn,

how in the world can they expect you to work in an icu without ekg certification? legally, you should not be documenting strips without the certification. jcaho would flip over something like this and a lawyer would have a field day with it. can you imagine this coming up in court.......can you explain why you documented this strip as sinus tachycardia when it is clearly supraventricular tachycardia? why was the doctor not notified?

answer........uhhhhhhh i thought it was sinus tachycardia? this is a serious problem, and after all the years of being a critical care nurse.....when in doubt about a strip or anything else i always ask someone else for their opinion.

as for the one year before acls, to me i think that is reasonable. it will take you at least that long to become comfortable with medications, rhythms, and code situations. acls can be difficult the first time around. no need to rush things, observe codes, pick brains and study, study, study.

you can do it!!!!!!:pumpiron:

my preceptorship was also run this way...so i had to take the strip from the tech and take it to another rn who wrote on the strip and singed her name. that went on for 8mos! ugh!

[dfk, RN, CRNA]

mistydawn,

how in the world can they expect you to work in an icu without ekg certification? legally, you should not be documenting strips without the certification. jcaho would flip over something like this and a lawyer would have a field day with it. can you imagine this coming up in court.......can you explain why you documented this strip as sinus tachycardia when it is clearly supraventricular tachycardia? why was the doctor not notified?

answer........uhhhhhhh i thought it was sinus tachycardia? this is a serious problem, and after all the years of being a critical care nurse.....when in doubt about a strip or anything else i always ask someone else for their opinion.

as for the one year before acls, to me i think that is reasonable. it will take you at least that long to become comfortable with medications, rhythms, and code situations. acls can be difficult the first time around. no need to rush things, observe codes, pick brains and study, study, study.

you can do it!!!!!!:pumpiron:

hey surgical hrt rn,

in no way does one need ekg certification (which, imo, means nothing unless you even remotely become proficient in not only knowing the geography of reading an ekg, but knowing and understanding axis deviation, r-r', qtc, etc...) to work in the icu. what one learns in acls is more than adequate to recognize the two main lethal arrythmias, vt and vf.

also, can you reference the legality of "reading" an ekg without certification? jcaho?? c'mon, they aren't even clinicians that run the commission, so i don't hold much water for them.

and also again, even if you "read" the ekg, chances are the md will be making the ultimate decision.

so, in short, i disagree with what you say re: 12 lead certification.

dfk crna

[richard1980]

hey surgical hrt rn,

in no way does one NEED ekg certification (which, IMO, means nothing unless you even remotely become proficient in not only knowing the geography of reading an ekg, but knowing and understanding axis deviation, r-r', QTc, etc...) to work in the ICU. what one learns in ACLS is more than adequate to recognize the two MAIN lethal arrythmias, VT and VF.

also, can you reference the legality of "reading" an EKG without certification? JCAHO?? c'mon, they aren't even clinicians that run the commission, so i don't hold much water for them.

and also again, even if you "read" the EKG, chances are the MD will be making the ultimate decision.

so, in short, i disagree with what you say re: 12 lead certification.

dfk CRNA

I couldn't agree more.

IMO I don't know how and why hospitals hire new grads to work in a SICU. Are they that despirate for nurses? I can understand other places like PACU, stepdowns, etc. I was a new grad once too and thought "hey I wanna work in SICU and there's no reason why I can't." But after working in SI for a few years you still come to realize that there is so much you don't know. I study at home and review hemodynamics (just redid the PACEP...I was bored). I've taught ACLS, ya they've made it really easy now and floor nurses as well as new grads would do just fine taking the class. But in a real code with someones life on the line, I would rather it be someone seasoned running the code than someone who may send themselves into SVT with all the epinephrine they have pumping through their body. I don't know why people complain that they can't get IABP certified or take TNCC or CCRN or PALS or ACLS EP or audit ATLS when they're just not ready for it yet. Get some experience and then you'll understand it better and retain it longer, it has nothing to do with how smart you are or think you are.