Looking for an ACLS course longer than 2days and not online!

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 13, 2012

The standard course is 2 days, the most I've seen was three but it was a Fri Eve, Sat day, Sunday Morning. I've never heard of a 6 week ACLS course. The course is designed for someone who already has the basic knowledge and skills required for ACLS (ECG/arrythmia recognition, cardiac conditions and emergency cardiac medications, etc.)

Are you a new nurse or still a student? If you are an employed new nurse check to see what your facility offers for training and whether the course is required and/or necessary for your job.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2012

Did you check the American Heart Association site?

6 weeks sounds more like a critical care course.

inacopina · Jul 13, 2012

Are you a new nurse or still a student? If you are an employed new nurse check to see what your facility offers for training and whether the course is required and/or necessary for your job.

I'm a new RN :yelclap: I have a job but they too do the 2 day course. I think I am going to just find an ACLS book and read up on it myself to get a good foundation before I do the class. Thanks for your reply! :up:

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 13, 2012

You can also go online to the American Heart Association website and take the pre-courses in arrhythmia recognition, advanced airway management, ECG & pharmacology management, STEMI). They aren't free but they are a good baseline for new providers.

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2012

why would a new nurse need acls? i'm sure it's not a requirement for employment, and to make best use of your brain you're better off taking it when you already have critical care experience and a practical use for it. as noted, you need to have a good, solid working knowledge of dysrythmias as a prerequisite, and by definition a new grad doesn't have that yet. when you do, an employer will pay for you to take it and give you the time off to do so.

this is not one of those things you take, put a notch in your belt, and move on-- you're supposed to be able to apply it when needed. i would never, ever assume a new grad who just took acls would be capable of doing that.

acls is given by the aha as a two-day (16 hour) course. if you're really hot to take it just for fun, with the understanding that you will not retain much of it, or to recert your bcls, stop by your local fire station. they all have acls instructors and instructor-trainers there who need to teach to keep their certification, and they usually have community-service mandates as well.

the fact that someone even thinks it's a six week course bespeaks lack of familiarity with the whole thing.

Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 13, 2012

why would a new nurse need acls? i'm sure it's not a requirement for employment, and to make best use of your brain you're better off taking it when you already have critical care experience and a practical use for it. as noted, you need to have a good, solid working knowledge of dysrythmias as a prerequisite, and by definition a new grad doesn't have that yet. when you do, an employer will pay for you to take it and give you the time off to do so.

in this area all of the surrounding hospitals, including mine, require their nurses to be acls certified within 6 months of hire, whether they are a new grad or not. so maybe op facility is the same.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jul 13, 2012

when you do, an employer will pay for you to take it and give you the time off to do so.

maybe my employer likes screwing people over, but, on my floor (telemetry) we are required to have acls cert by the end of our orientation. the health system's schedule for acls does not always coincide with orientation, so we often have to go outside to do it. it costs more outside. regardless, we do not get paid for time of attendance, and we only get reimbursed at the health system's rate for the class. doing the math, the requirement probably cost me $300 in lost wages (unpaid, but required, education) and $190 for the class (difference between cost of outside class vs. health system class).

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2012

"within six months of hire" still gives them a chance to know what they're doing with it, and the basic dysrythmias, from experience. new grad with no work exerience taking it now and then getting a job in five months or more, not so much.

and at least you can deduct it from your taxes, dudette!

Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 15, 2012

"within six months of hire" still gives them a chance to know what they're doing with it, and the basic dysrythmias, from experience. new grad with no work exerience taking it now and then getting a job in five months or more, not so much.

and at least you can deduct it from your taxes, dudette!

okay.