Is it worth it to take a Cardiac Dysrhythmia class while in nursing school?

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Title says it all. I have the option to take it as an elective in nursing school, but it'll cost me around $400. Would it be worth that kind of money? Does it look good on resumes? Why would you take it/why not?

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It would only help you! If you can pay the $400, do it. Slap that on resumes and it can also be a good conversation point with future employers during interviews.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Education is never a bad thing. It would give you more post graduation options I think.

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We have electives as well but each semester in our program, we have 15 credits worth of required courses. I really want to take critical care nursing in my last semester. That will put me at 19 credits which I'm not too happy about, plus the class alone has 90 clinical hours. I'm scared it'll be too much for my last semester but I think it'll help me after graduation because I want to be a critical care nurse.

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Specializes in ER.

I think so. It will help you with critical care and ACLS, if you decide to take that.

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Not worth it, my employer put me in all of those classes when I got hired into critical care. Waste of money IMO and it won't put you ahead of peers.

ACLS

PALS

EKG 12 lead

and more...

All paid for during my residency

Save your money

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

You don't say how far along you are in school. If you're far enough along that you can understand how understanding the ECG can better help you understand your patient's condition and vice versa, AND if the class applies toward your graduation, go for it. If not, wait and take it later on.

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Specializes in Developmentally delayed.

I took one a few months back (in my second semester) because it was free to me, I think its helpful information to know, and like other people said more resume padding ;)

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Knowledge is power.

Do you have a critical care rotation, though? We didn't have an EKG class at my school but we learned EKG basics (how to interpret a strip) as well as arrhythmia interpretation in that class, so you may not even necessarily need the separate EKG class.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

There are a ton of free resources online if you want to expand your knowledge in this area. If you're hired for a job that requires dysrhythmia knowledge, you employer will provide training - if you claim prior competency, they will test you.

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Not worth it, my employer put me in all of those classes when I got hired into critical care. Waste of money IMO and it won't put you ahead of peers.

ACLS

PALS

EKG 12 lead

and more...

All paid for during my residency

Save your money

That's a good point. Didn't think about it like that. I could have the $$$ if i saved but it would hurt me financially so I was trying to weigh up whether it's really worth it. I don't have much to put on my resume besides clinicals and some CNA experience, so I'm looking to help myself any way I can. If it would drastically change my prospects of getting hired, even as a tech at a hospital, I'd take it. I just don't know if it's worth it!

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Ruby Vee, I am a second semester Junior in a BSN program. 3 semesters to go including this one. :)

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