new grad - worth taking ACLS class before being hired?

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I'm a new grad, hoping to work in MICU/CCU, although the way hiring and the economy are here, I may have to take anything that will get me into a hospital. Would it help me get an ICU position to take an ACLS class on my own, or is it something that I should wait until I'm hired? I don't know exactly how the hiring culture works, I don't want to be presumptuous.

I'd like to take the class. It doesn't cost much at all compared to my BSN; it's interesting material and we didn't get any real exposure to it in clinicals - we got a short lecture on EKGs and had the ACLS drugs in pharm but not the nitty-gritty with all the indications and contraindications. For instance, I learned on Allnurses that you don't give NTG to a pt with an inferior MI. I'm studying from the icufaqs.org material now.

I did a MICU/CCU externship and loved it so it's definitely where I want to be. So, take the class on my own, or not?

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Specializes in CCRN.

I would recommend waiting. The advantage to waiting is that your employer should provide the course as part of you training. No it is not as expensive as a college degree but it is costly. I teach ACLS for my facility and honestly find that new grads with six months of experience or so do better in the course and take more away from it. There are already so many tasks and challenges transitioning from new grad to RN. It is good that you are eager, I suggest you really familiarize yourself with medications and rhythms in the mean time. Invest in some good 12 lead ECG materials if you really feel the need to purchase something. Really know you BLS and once hired request to observe codes if possible. I also recommend that those new to ACLS offer to take the code notes the first few times they respond to a code. This enables them to understand all of the components involved while observing.

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Unless you want to get it out of the way, I would wait until my employer pays for it. I did it on my own and had to pay $255. Quite a chunk of change when you consider that many employers pay for the course.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

The market is pretty saturated in my area as well. I am planning on taking it regardless in my fifth semester. I have no real clinicals that semester and think it will keep me on my feet and prepare me for my second ICU rotation/preceptorship. I dont mind taking it again when the employers pay for it for some extra review if possible.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I would say wait to take it until you are hired unless you want to pay for it yourself. Most hospitals will pay for their staff to take it, but then again, I guess it might depend on the job market in your area.

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Specializes in Telemetry & PCU.

I intend to take the ACLS course next month prior to the start of my last semester. The job market for new grads is tight here and anything I can do to set myself apart from the herd is what I want to do. I realize that I might not get as much out of it as I would after 6 months on the floor and that my employer would probably pay for it; however, I will get something out of it whether it helps with my job search or not. I look at these kinds of things as investments in my future.

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Specializes in Flight RN, Trauma1 CVICU STICU MICU CCU.

Take your PALS and your ACLS. Pals helped me for my pedi rotation and ACLS forced me to learn all of my cardiac stuff a whole semester early.. But now i'm going into my last semester sitting pretty with a great set of skills and knowledge. The job market is tight around here too with a great oversaturation of the nursing market, so i distinguished myself by taking the AC and PALS as well as doing an EMT-B class online this last semester. If you are determined to get the job you want, then you need to stand out, Right?

All of the naysayers will tell you to save the money and wait, but if you want the knowledge, go get it!

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Specializes in Anesthesia, CTICU.
Take your PALS and your ACLS. Pals helped me for my pedi rotation and ACLS forced me to learn all of my cardiac stuff a whole semester early.. But now i'm going into my last semester sitting pretty with a great set of skills and knowledge. The job market is tight around here too with a great oversaturation of the nursing market, so i distinguished myself by taking the AC and PALS as well as doing an EMT-B class online this last semester. If you are determined to get the job you want, then you need to stand out, Right?

All of the naysayers will tell you to save the money and wait, but if you want the knowledge, go get it!

Couldn't agree more! Make sure your positive attitude shows when you're interviewing. Also, you can never go wrong adding EMT to your knowledge and experience base (and to your resume as well!)

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry/PCU, SNF.

I'm going to go with those that say to wait.

First, any employer who wants you to be ACLS certified will pay for it as part of your orientation. Sure, you can hell out the cash, but if someone else is going to pay for it, why do that? Second, waiting until you have time on the floor and have been exposed to emergent situation will enable you to place the ACLS situations in perspective. Without perspective and understanding of the situation, real world experience, ACLS is nothing more than book knowledge and you're not able to process it through the filter to understand what a typical presentation might be. ACLS presentations are clear cut and relatively simple. Experience will allow you to extrapolate their situation into one you may have seen before thereby enhancing your understanding of the algorithm. Finally, sometimes it can lead to "know-it-all" phenomenon in new grads, which isn't always the best thing...not like I'm saying everyone who takes ACLS in school will be a know-it-all, but there is the possibility.

That said, if you feel that taking these courses will enhance your desirability to employers, run with it. But as someone who has done hiring, there is so much more that we look at the knowledge and skills. Just saying.

Good luck,

Tom

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:yeahthat: I totally agree with Tom's post!!! If you're really that into getting a head start, just look up some of the algorithms online to start familiarizing yourself with them or look up the commonly used ACLS drugs in a nsg drug guide for indications and uses in codes. Otherwise save your $$$, you will definitely get the training at work and get paid while doing it!

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Specializes in Telemetry & PCU.
:yeahthat: I totally agree with Tom's post!!! If you're really that into getting a head start, just look up some of the algorithms online to start familiarizing yourself with them or look up the commonly used ACLS drugs in a nsg drug guide for indications and uses in codes. Otherwise save your $$$, you will definitely get the training at work and get paid while doing it!

I agree with what you are saying and I am sure that I would get more out of it after I was on the ground for 6 months. However, in AZ several hospitals have limited or even quit hiring new grads; ergo the competition is getting fierce. Come June/July there will be 400+ new grads vying for jobs here!! I need all of the resume builders I can get.

Thanks Spacialized for the know-it-all-tip; that is absolutely the last way I want to be seen. I want to be humble and teachable.

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

I agree that you should wait. Having ACLS is just book knowledge and doesn't make you more competitive than if you'd actually had a job where you used it. You'd be a MUCH more competitive applicant if you'd worked as a nurse tech before graduation. ACLS is just a piece of paper and anyone can get that. Good luck!

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