Is First Aid Class Worth It?

Shanimal · Dec 11, 2017

A waste of time (and money). I'm a BLS instructor with the American Heart Association and teach this course. It's intended for the layperson. You'll learn all this stuff and more early on in your nursing program.

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Dec 11, 2017

It's not really going to be geared towards anything you'll cover in nursing school specifically. It might be nice to have exposure to some community resources for basic first aid, but I don't think it will make much impact for you.

Wuzzie · Dec 11, 2017

First Aid won't help you in nursing school but it's a great thing to have in your orificenal. I, for one, am very glad I have it.

Davey Do · Dec 11, 2017

I have a couple more prereqs to take in the spring semester and I start nursing school in the fall. Since I have a lighter workload next semester I was thinking of taking first aid. Will this class help me a lot in nursing school?

Not a lot, but still a great idea!

Not only will it give or review some basics for you, it'll give you a perspective of a First Aid responder that you can build on.

Taking a First Aid class can keep your head in a medical area and stimulate your juices for learning more!

Accolay · Dec 11, 2017

What's on the syllabus? Might not help nursing school, but probably wont hurt either. Could be worth it if teaches about, I don't know, setting bones vs placing band aids.

rkitty198, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2017

I took it prior to nursing school. I thought it helped me to feel more comfortable with the bls process.

It also had good teaching regarding basic wound dressings-wrapping techniques.

Other than that it was geared more towards first responder. I work in acute care so I am not the first responder at the scene but it allowed me to see what happens on the scene before the patient gets to me.

I was glad I took it. It did give me that GPA boost I needed too.

Guest219794 · Dec 11, 2017

I will go with, no, not much.

But, depending on the course, it may well help you in the real world.

Surprisingly, school will teach you next to nothing about first aid, and most nurses don't know what to do in the event of a car accident.

Wuzzie · Dec 11, 2017

But, depending on the course, it may well help you in the real world.
Surprisingly, school will teach you next to nothing about first aid, and most nurses don't know what to do in the event of a car accident.

Or when your kid lacerates himself or breaks something (and they will). It's a real world skill I think everyone should be taught.

Ohm108, MSN, NP, CNM · Dec 12, 2017

Just to add to this, some nursing schools require that you have your BLS before you start classes and clinicals so something to keep in mind. The certification last for 2 years so you can try and time it so that it covers your entire time in nursing school if that works out for you.