Nervous about my BSL class!

[gymnut]

DOH!!!! I MEANT TO SAY BLS IN MY TITLE!!! I'm off to a good start already...

God I sound like a complete dork but, I'm really nervous about this class for some reason. My first session is tomorrow from 6:30pm - 10:30pm and then the last part is on Thursday at the same time. It's the BLS for healthcare providers class that is being taught at my local community college. I am a massage therapist and I also take care of my 84 year old grandmother several times a week and I'm going to school in September to become a CNA so I thought this would be a helpful all around certification to get.

The admissions rep said that it was an entry level class and I didn't need to have any prior health care experience to enroll. However my friend who is an RN said she didn't understand why I was told that because there is a reason 'for health care providers' is in the title. So this already made me nervous plus it doesn't help that I haven't been in a classroom setting in almost a decade. I can't imagine that the class is going to go into great detail being that it is only 8 hours long. I'm just terrified that I'm going to fail and have all these dumb thoughts going through my head especially when it comes time to learn how to use the AED I keep thinking I'll set the dummy on fire.

So anyone go through this recently?

[nursingstudent221]

I took that class last month it was easy. I passed with a 100 and everyone in my class passed. Don't worry they will teach ans show u everything And it not that hard of stuff.

Edit: I also have no health care experidence .

[CoffeemateCNA]

Don't stress it. My first CPR class was years before I was a CNA and I had no experience at the time. BLS and layperson CPR are very, very similar. There are only a few differences. In BLS, you will learn a few "extra" things like ventilating someone with a bag-valve mask, etc.

They usually send you some materials in the mail for you to study so you can be familiar with them before you start class. Even if they don't, you could still find ample study materials on the internet. The class isn't difficult, really. It isn't in-depth and requires only very, very little memorization (the only thing you have to really memorize is the ratio of compressions to ventilations -- 30:2).

P.S. You can't set the AED dummy on fire. The AEDs used in the class are "teaching" units and are incapable of delivering an electrical shock. The only way you will be able to set the dummy on fire is if you bring some matches and a vat of gasoline. :)

[Saysfaa]

"For health care providers" means they teach a few more things than BLS for nonhealth care providers. It does not mean they expect you to know anything before you get there.

So, technically, your RN friend is right about there being a reason for that phrase... but her implied reason is not accurate. Your school is accurate with their "entry level" and "no prior experience."

[DarkBluePhoenix]

Don't be nervous. I thought it was kind of fun and I passed with an 100%