I just graduated in Dec and became an RN in Jan. What was I thinking taking ACLS already??? I had it this week and feel like I got hit by a truck! I passed but I think it was a sympathy pass. I had to do my mega code twice cause the 1st try I said to do chest compressions on a person with a pulse---what was I thinking???
I feel like an idiot. There were two Drs in my mega code, an ER Dr and an internist, plus some very exp nurses.
I volunteered to go 1st thinking "ok get it out of the way" well about 3 seconds into it I think I went into SVT myself. The room started spinning and I just went blank. I have never felt so stupid.
When the teacher gave me the scenario my 1st thought was "OK call a code and get a Dr in here and I will step back"
I hate to say it but I am glad 4 others had to do their Mega code again too. 2nd time was not as bad, but still pretty bad.
Ok so I just had to vent---I am totally going to go to the class again in the Fall, just for a refresher as even though technically I am ACLS certified now, I feel like a fake, like I shouldnt be able to say that I am because I just couldnt do it. UGHH---
So have any other of you 1st year nurses taken ACLS, did you feel like a fool? Please say yes... throw me some love...
i was lucky. i was all about doing acls the second i was hired, but my boss wouldn't let me and now i know why. there was a basic tele class we all had to take, then we worked for another couple months, and then we were signed up for acls. if i'd taken it when i wanted to i would have been in your shoes for sure!
as it was, the first day was awsome, but the second day a couple of the instructors switched and that made things a lot harder. i still need to review cause i don't use it a lot!
Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.
I took ACLS 6 months before I graduated with my BSN. I think it helped because my patho teacher taught it and it was nothing but people in our class, so it helped because he really taught it well. I probably couldnt tell ya half of what I learned almost a year later lol! In codes I just scream HELP and get someone with more experience, STAT lol
congratulations and you are not a phoney. i've been a nurse for almost 33 years and i failed acls this year and i've been acls certified for about 6 years now. i had the book and the cd, and i really really studied. during the practice mega code i did great x 2. the instructor complimented me on doing so well. the real mega code i failed miserably. i was the only one in the entire class of about 50 who failed.
i did go back 4 days later, took a private class, and passed. whew, i can't work if i'm not acls certified and my husband is laid-off and i was really sweating it. i plan to become an acls instructor.
i'm very proud of you passing!!!! congratulations!
I was intimidated by ACLS too.. I've only been working as an RN since January. I studied the handbook algorithms, and asked a lot of questions during class and practice time. Once you become familiar with the drug doses, I think it's not too bad. It's still scary as heck when you're the one running the megacode, but it's very doable. All of us at our station passed the first time.
nursekatie22, RN
195 Posts
i was lucky. i was all about doing acls the second i was hired, but my boss wouldn't let me and now i know why. there was a basic tele class we all had to take, then we worked for another couple months, and then we were signed up for acls. if i'd taken it when i wanted to i would have been in your shoes for sure!
as it was, the first day was awsome, but the second day a couple of the instructors switched and that made things a lot harder. i still need to review cause i don't use it a lot!
~katie