Not enough experience!!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Home Health.

Hi, I have been an RN now for 2 yrs. I have worked several jobs, none of which have provided any real training.

I work agency and HH. I had an oportunity to work in a hospital with the agency. I told the scheduler I would LOVE to work in a hospital but I don't have any experience [as an RN]. She called the hospital to see what their requirements were for an agency nurse. They wanted a nurse who was certified in ACLS.

I am not certified. I took basic EMT in 2001 but didn't get certified. I decided to look on the AHA website to find out where I could take the course. I found out that I can take it at my local hospital. COOL!! :D

I called the educator and asked about the class. She said I needed the basic rhythms class first @ a cost of $50 + $31 for the book. This class meets in Feb. The ACLS class meets in March. Price for that class $175.00 + book.

Fine, I don't care how much it costs, I just want to get more education so I can expand my horizons and help my pts. I asked her to but me on the list for the classes and she asked me who I worked for. I told her, then she said that she doubted that I would ever need those classes and that I would be wasting my time. I told her that I didn't care, I really wanted to take these classes. Then she said that I couldn't be on the list for the class because they have to give it to the in hospital staff first. :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

I understand the need to train in house, but why can't they make room for me? I have decided to take the CD class offered by AHA so that I will know something if and when I get to take the class. I really just need someone to watch me do a 'megacode'.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Any advice would be appreciated.

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This is typical for many agency nurses. With education dollars getting cut, the hospitals are very unwilling to let "outsiders" into the classes - even if those people are going to be working at that hospital!

You need to check out independent education people. There are starting to be many healthcare providers who are starting their own small training companies for EKG, BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, etc. Do an online search. Check the AHA website for a listing of people in your area that offer the classes. You can also call the local fire station and ask them. Oftentimes paramedics offer ACLS classes and checkoffs at the firehouses. The class I took at a firestation many years ago was the best one that I ever took.

Get your ACLS and keep it forever! I know many people who got it then let it lapse because their job didn't require it. Then something happened and they had to get a new job but had problems because the positions they were applying for required ACLS. You will always look better to an employer if you have more evidence of training such as ACLS.

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Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.

Contact the american heart association, your local chapter. There might be a place near you where you can get in and take the classes.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/MICU/SICU/CTICU.

I don't know if you have thought about this or not either......... the AHA offers ACLS online.........then you go to a local hospital and do the "megacode" for the validation part of it. Most of the hospitals that do this are teaching facilities....either way.......the AHA has a list of hospitals that will do the validation part.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

I work agency and had no problem taking ACLS at a local hospital. Actually, it was really fun because I got to meet a lot of new people and got training at a state of the art facility! If I were you I would just call up and say it is required for your job. It is none of their business why you need it. Anybody can take ACLS. I knew a nursing student who took it.

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Specializes in ER.

As ane experienced nurse I find it amazing that an agency would hire you. IMO this is the problem, you should get med surge experience in a hospital even if you don't like the job YOU NEED to get experience. Working as a med surge nurse teaches not only pathophysiology bue it also teaches you how to become more organized and learn about prioritizing your duties. Too many new nurses today are not getting the basic skills of nursing down first. Many can argue with me but when you truely think about it everything is based on learning fundementals first. ACLS makes more sense when you have seen where these skills are used.

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

Like other posters have said, I went on the American Heart Association's website and looked up an ACLS class that was near me. I ran into a similar problem when I wanted to take ACLS at the hospital that I work for - they wanted me to have a rhythm recognition class first (a class that met once a week for 7 weeks) before I could sign up for ACLS. No thanks. I reviewed the rhythms we learned in nursing school and went straight to the ACLS class offered through an independent agency....passed with 100%.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Home Health.
As ane experienced nurse I find it amazing that an agency would hire you. IMO this is the problem, you should get med surge experience in a hospital even if you don't like the job YOU NEED to get experience. Working as a med surge nurse teaches not only pathophysiology bue it also teaches you how to become more organized and learn about prioritizing your duties. Too many new nurses today are not getting the basic skills of nursing down first. Many can argue with me but when you truely think about it everything is based on learning fundementals first. ACLS makes more sense when you have seen where these skills are used.

HI evilnightwitch,

I have LOTS of experience in LTC and that is where I work with the agency. I am NOT about to work in a hospital w/o experience/training!! That is why I told the scheduler that I didn't have any hospital experience.

I was hired as GN at the local hospital. They kept me as an NA. Did NOT train me in any nursing classes. I passed boards 4 days before the FIRED me [at the 89th day]. My NM told me I wasn't being recommended for any other floor in the hospital. That I NEEDED to work LTC for 2 yrs.

The experience I don't have is IV starts, blood draws, etc. I shouldn't have been surprised that my local hospital won't let me take the course, hell, they won't even hire me and when they did, they didn't train me.

I love home health. I do NOT want to work in a hospital. I can get the training I need and not work in a hospital. I want to improve myself and I want to LEARN!! I want to stay away from the constant backbiting, gossip,etc.

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