How to learn ACLS?

Nurses General Nursing

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I need to take an ACLS course for my position in the ICU & the facility offers two- one is a two day comprehensive course and the other is a refresher course for those who have been ACLS certified- well, obviously I registered for the first, and my supervisor says I cant go to the two day one, I have to take the one day class, even after I described to her that I was not certified already... So I'm kinda bummed because this is some really valuable information- I'm not familiar at all with rhythms, just the pretty textbook kind, which they rarely actually look just like- and I want to be useful & help save someone's life!

So, I guess I'm partially on my own- do any of you have any good books on the subject you would recommend or any other study tips so I can be prepared in the event of my first code?

Thanks!

Specializes in Neuro ICU.

I did :) Got the two day class woohoo!

Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

You MUST know the lethal rhythms, 3rd degree block, vfib, vtach, and how to pace brady with symptoms. Asystole and PEA is the same thing, only you try to find out the "H"'s of the cause of PEA.

Once you know this... look listen, feel... the basics then two minutes of CPR long before epi is pushed. Just call vasopressin and you're good for 20 minutes.

ACLS is no longer the chemistry expirament it used to be, keep with the basics, stay on the chest for two minutes, pulse and rhythm check, switch compressors and treat the rhythm at the 2 minute mark.

Do not make this difficult, it may be foreign, but ask an ACLS teacher to walk you through if this is new to you.

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