How long is a BLS class supossed to last

[MzTayTay]

I need to get my BLS certification before I start the RN program on August 23. I know its kind of last minute, but I was admitted just one week ago. Most of the BLS classes through the community college and most other organizations last 5 hours or more. I have no problem with sitting in class that long but none of the dates that they are offered on work for my schedule.

I was searching for other places that I could take the BLS certification and I found one that is privately owned. The date works fine for me, but I'm a little worried because they said the training will only last 2 hours. What's up with that?

[doublehelix]

The class length all depends on the instructor, amount of people in your class, and of course if the class has taken the BLS course before. The first time I took it, three years ago now, It was an 7 hour session. When you go back to do your yearly renewal, it usually takes 3-4 hours. It's a lot of information for some people to handle at once, and you usually work in groups of 3. Everyone has a different pace.

I enjoyed the renewal course much more, because I was surrounded by health are professionals who already knew what we were doing. You have a series of scenarios to go over, and they do go over the basic guidelines even during the renewal courses... So a two hour training sounds almost impossible, unless they are not teacher you everything, or your class is VERY small. My college also had us become certified for the BLS *before* we were even considered for the course (along with our immunizations..)

Most of the BLS classes will tell you its an eight hour course, and they give you coffee and lunch breaks. Obviously with the lunch breaks the course takes longer, but you need a break inbetween your practice compressions. Be prepared to put in eight hours, even though it's likely to be less. I always take my classes on a Saturday morning, but they also offer evenings.

[Intern67]

I was searching for other places that I could take the BLS certification and I found one that is privately owned. The date works fine for me, but I'm a little worried because they said the training will only last 2 hours. What's up with that?

Refresher BLS courses often last around 2 hours.

[tokyoROSE, BSN, RN]

You're just going to have to make it work. Mine was 5-6 hours with a lunch break. I just don't think you can cover that much material in a shorter period of time.

[MzTayTay]

O I see. I called and it was in fact a Refresher course... THANKS GUYS.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I'm taking my class next Friday, and we've been told to allot at least 4 hours for it.

[LuckyinKY]

I had a one on one class and it took 3 hours. I had pediatric CPR many years ago and came to class with some basic knowledge.

[dandk1997RN, MSN, RN]

My employer offers the AHA course for healthcare providers. I took it a few weeks ago after being lapsed for two years, so it was NOT a refresher course. There were 27 people in the class. It was scheduled to last 5 hours, but it only took two. Yes, two. Some people were stuck there a little longer, but most of us were not. Of course, I work for a large hospital, so we had lots of mannequins to practice on, and at the skills test portion, they brought in extra instructors so that there were four people testing us. I went and did my skills test first so I wouldn't get stuck at the end of a long line and then took my written quiz, and I was the first one done. Obviously, this situation is atypical. We had a total of about 6 instructors there by the time I left- two teaching the whole time (actually, mostly just showing a video, pointing out specifics, and watching us do the practice portions to ensure we were doing it correctly.) I've taken the first-timer class several times (it has never been a job requirement in the lab, so I often let it lapse) and it has always been about 4 hours.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I just came from my class, and I was there for 3 hours. Had I been closer to the front of the line for skills evaluation, it would have been shorter. Some people were only there for about 2 hours.

[jennyht25]

my bls class was about 4 hours long

[caliotter3]

A two hour class will typically be a "test only" class for those who are renewing their certificate.

[SingDanceRunLife]

A two hour class will typically be a "test only" class for those who are renewing their certificate.

Guess my class wasn't typical then. Only about half the class had ever done CPR before, but nobody was there for more than 3.5 hours, and most of that time was spent waiting to do the skills/test.