Gave up in ACLS class

[Ms.RN]

Yesterday I attended the first day of ACLS class and I felt like a total dummy. I only had 2 days to read the review book, I had no previous experience working in the hosptial or interpreting EKG. I thought i had to to listen to a lecture and take the test on the second day. I had no idea this class is all about practical where we have actual case scenerio and one person have to pretty much run the code. Other people in my group are working in ICU or telemetry unit so they knew what they are doing. I'm giving up trying to pass the practical test. I know I'm not going to be able to pass the test. It hurts to find out I'm a failure but I gotta be honest with myself and admit i cant handle this class.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

You have got to study beforehand. If you really study, then when you go in you're just reviewing it and putting it into practice. If you're trying to learn it under the stress of all the mock codes and skill stations, then you can't be surprised to have trouble with it.

[MC1906]

I think it really depends on who is teaching your class. The classes should be standardize so they do not throw wierd scenarios at you when your not in the field as a first responder. The class was very beneficial to me as new nurse when I took it. It allowed me to have "some" knowledge of the basics. The basics of ACLS is BLS. Your not running a code alone and a physician or provider should be there directing a code. Codes are never the same. Watch your first code, then the second time around take the notes. Once you get comfortable move to another skill, level ...medications, calculations, etc...

[cokeforbreakfast]

I would try not to rely on having the algorithms in front of you during the simulations. One nurse tried in our practice sim last week, but things were moving so fast it didn't really work out...and no one used them in the megacode test out. I didn't even know you COULD!

As an aside, my favorite EKG book is "Rapid Interpretation of EKG's" by Dale Dubin. I am a person who has to know the 'why' of everything, and this books starts at how the EKG was invented, and moves forward from there. LOVELY!

You'll do great next time!

[ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN]

Don't give up, I had a melt down during my mega code first time around and still passed the class, at the time I was taking it for the extra knowledge, now as an ER nurse I've been able to actually use it a few times and put it all together.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i'm an acls instructor. we don't try to fail anyone -- at least no one i know does -- but you do have to study and be prepared. i'm very surprised no one told you that when you signed up for the class. most of us will work extra hard to help someone "get it" when we can see that they're trying.

go to the second class. you've already paid for it, you've scheduled the time, and you're going to learn something from it. you may even learn enough to pass. assuming that you don't, however, you have the course materials now and an idea of how the course is structured. you'll have learned exactly where you need to focus your study time. go home and study then re-take the class. you'll have learned some valuable skills and you'll know you're not a quitter!

good luck -- come back and let us know how you did!

[firemed483]

Don't give up, you are not a failure. When I first took my ACLS I had to go into a room with a panel of an ED Doc, 2 charge nurses and an oscilloscope. They were firing questions at me left right and center, in the back of my mind a little voice was telling me " I'm an RT, why the hell am I doing this?"

I have now been an instructor for several years and we have a prerequisite of an EKG class for first time takers. The AHA has changed the formatt of the classes over the past couple of years with the expectation of students having the knowledge prior to the classes, look out for classes that will help you with the knowledge or borrow study books there are a lot of good ones out there. Get back in there prepared, good luck.

[sunrock]

I understand, i took an ekg course and got an attendance certificate, did not pass the ekg strips. It was look discuss and take the test, so i failed the strip reading, now what do i have to retake, i was disgusted with myself, the other students were on staff and looking at strips everyday, i was lost.

[firemed483]

Try some of the books by Barbara Aehlert, she has books on EKGs and also a study guide for ACLS. I find she explains things very well.

[BluegrassRN]

Definitely take an EKG class prior to ACLS.

I took it twice. Once when I started working as an RN, and once about a week before the ACLS class. It helped tremendously. It also helped that I wasn't just trying to memorize rhythms, but actually learning what caused the rhythm. If you understand the patho behind the issues, the meds and interventions all come easily.

I also had an AMAZING instructor. Ask your friends who've taken EKG classes and ACLS classes which instructors are best. Instruction really does make a huge different.

If I were you, I'd go ahead and go to the class. So what if you don't pass; I'll bet you still learned something. Keep your book, study it, and then retake the class.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I agree with the others. Go to the second day. When I was first hired at my new job (as a 16 yr nurse RN) I had never had ACLS and went into a cold panic when I heard it was mandatory. I had 6 months to study, and study I did. I took an EKG class twice and read those algorithims and until I understood them. I also had the AHA book with CD and took that test until I was getting at least a solid 95%.

When the ACLS came, it wasn't bad at all. Like everyone said, they wanted you to pass. Ours was run by 3 women paramedics who had a sense of humor to boot. They actually made if fun. The Megacode scenario was a silly one. Mine was a collapsed drunk that stumbled out of a bar that is notoriously famous in the area for such things to happen. So that right there took the stress out of running it. Don't get me wrong, you had to know the strips, and such, but the instructor made you laugh a bit before she started your megacode.

For the record, I got a 98% on the written and a 100% on the megacode.

Good luck. You can do it. I did. :)