Pals And Acls

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.

Ok, ignorant question, what exactly are PALS ans ACLS? I am a LVN going into the hospital for the first time (2 yrs hh and ltc experience.) I will be receiving my ADN via EC around June. Do I need these extra qualifications right now? can I even get them as a LVN?

ACLS = Advanced Cardiac Life Support

PALS = Pediatric Advanced Life Suport.

These are both specialty certifications; not required for licensure. Usually required to work in ED/CCU etc.

Also; yes you can take these course's as an LVN.

Specializes in Home Health, Primary Care.

Usually required to work in an intensive care unit, i.e., MICU, SICU, CCU, CTU, PICU, NICU, ER and any that I missed.

Specializes in medical, telemetry, IMC.

i just took acls this past weekend. it is a requirement for working on my unit (medical/telemetry). we had to pay to take the class ($145 or $175 if you bought the book from them) but we get a $0.50 pay raise if we have acls.

we don't get any pediatric patients, so we don't have to take pals and we also would not get the pay raise, so i didn't take pals.

it really wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. i am a new lvn (graduated in may) and i passed the mega code and i made a 100 on the test.

also, since you're in tx, if leslie hernandez (www.lpmh.org) offers classes where you live, take them with her. she's great! i have taken several classes with her and she makes things really easy to understand!

Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.

Thank you. It is nice to have a community of fellow nurses to come to and ask questions. :balloons: :balloons:

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