Where can I get my certifications????

Nurses General Nursing

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So I have been trying to get my certifications such as basic EKG, ACLS, PALS... and all but my employer keeps giving me the run around. They wont sign me up for dates and they will not return my calls or emails. The HR dept. nor my Director.

This is a bunch of crap!

Here i am a new grad trying to learn more and no one will give me answers.

So I am turning to you allnurses!!!

Does anyone know where I can get these certifications? I just want to make sure I can find a legit place. I understand I will pay for them out of pocket... obviously since my employer is lazy!

I found a website Clinical Solutions. They offer courses that I want. Live courses in Fort Lauderdale. But how do I know if there really legit, not a scam. I don't want to take a course and not get the real certification.

Ultimately I want to be chemotherapy certified and I don't know where to begin with that either... any ideas??

Thanks all, you rock!

Lisa

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Hi there,

I personally certified in CNA stream from an University but if you don't want to get the real certification or any direct courses then i will suggest you some organization who provide online CNA certificate in any stream. Some of them i have mentioned below, let me know if you want more about these University

1. Kaplan University

2. West Coast University

3. Walden University

4. National American University

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

try calling other hospitals for class availability. some hospitals offer the courses through private contractors more often then others. gl!

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Specializes in Neuro/NSGY, critical care, med/stroke/tele.

Have a look on the AHA class finder, here: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3012360 - you can find listings of local classes at hospitals/agencies/etc. searching by Zip Code, and then picking the course you want. :D Have fun! Let us know if you find what you're looking for! :)

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I do want the real certifications. I just want to make sure I get it from the correct people/company. I once renewed my CPR online; turned out to be nothing more than a scam and they took my money.

I'll try other hospitals. thanks!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

In no way do I mean to be difficult... that being said...as a new grad, are there certs REQUIRED for your current position? If not, some hospitals only offer the classes to those who are required to first because of limited space availability.

That being said, the BLS is a must I think and contact the american heart association for that and ACLS and Pals. For other certs, FIRST check with HR and make sure they recognize an out of facility cert for things like EKG.

Smaller facilities and yes some big ones too, require you to be responsible for them. The AHA site will guide you with the big three, but you have to know the EKG first. Is it simply poor communication and they have a longer time limit than you feel you need? Ex. we don't require ACLS and PALS until the first year is completed.

If you have a clinical instructor or education department, go through them for help. Some managers are way too busy and it takes forever and your preceptors don't have the connections to help you.

CONGRATS new grad!!!!! Welcome to the world of nursing and try not to be frustrated as you learn how to navigate through your hospital systems;)

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Specializes in Med./Surg. and paramed. exams.

Find a new employer, one who will support your growth as a nurse. I understand sometimes economics play a role and we must all be willing to give here and there, but not being supportive when it comes to what I consider necessary education such as ACLS is of detriment to your patients, yourself, and your employer. Good Luck and hope things work out.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.
Find a new employer, one who will support your growth as a nurse. I understand sometimes economics play a role and we must all be willing to give here and there, but not being supportive when it comes to what I consider necessary education such as ACLS is of detriment to your patients, yourself, and your employer. Good Luck and hope things work out.

How "new" of a grad are you? As a previous poster mentioned, this may not be an employer who isn't supportive, but more of a "it isn't time for you to take these yet". I would have assumed that BLS is required for all hospital employees. Where I work ACLS and the EKG class is only required on telemetry/ICU/ER. Things like PALS/TNCC/ACLS aren't even recommended until after a certain amount of work experience. Is it possible your jumping the gun here and your employer wants you to focus on orientation? Don't forget that many of these classes are very expensive if taken on your own, you might want to be patient, give it a bit more time and save yourself some money!

Best of luck to you! I applaud your enthusiasm and hope you do well on your new journey in Nursing!

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

For PALS and ACLS check with your local ambulance company, the one near where I live offers both :nurse:

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Specializes in oncology/BMT, general medicine.

Are you currently working in oncology? At my hospital, the only RN's permitted to administer chemotherapy must work in the inpatient or outpatient oncology departments or the physician practices. Our float pool has a few nurses that are chemotherapy certified, but they are not allowed to administer the drugs unless they are working in one of the above mentioned areas. You also must have six months of oncology experience to even take the course and it really does make a difference.

If you are working in oncology and are interested, the Oncology Nursing Society offers this course...

http://www.ons.org/CNECentral/Chemo/Main

You would have to find an upcoming class and pay for it yourself. Our hospital currently has two nurses that can teach this course, so it is the one that we use.

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Big teaching hospitals with nursing education departments have frequent certification classes.

My hospital has monthly ACLS classes.

Are you still on orientation? Sometimes orientation is so busy that the focus is on getting work skills first and then looking at the beyond-the-basic certifications later.

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So I have been trying to get my certifications such as basic EKG, ACLS, PALS... and all but my employer keeps giving me the run around. They wont sign me up for dates and they will not return my calls or emails. The HR dept. nor my Director.

This is a bunch of crap!

Here i am a new grad trying to learn more and no one will give me answers.

So I am turning to you allnurses!!!

Does anyone know where I can get these certifications? I just want to make sure I can find a legit place. I understand I will pay for them out of pocket... obviously since my employer is lazy!

I found a website Clinical Solutions. They offer courses that I want. Live courses in Fort Lauderdale. But how do I know if there really legit, not a scam. I don't want to take a course and not get the real certification.

Ultimately I want to be chemotherapy certified and I don't know where to begin with that either... any ideas??

Thanks all, you rock!

Lisa

Are they giving you the run-around since they aren't required for your current position???

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