PALS and ACLS question

ive looked into it and as far as i know you cant get either until you have an RN license. (unless you are a paramedic). and most employers will hire you without it and give you the class for free. if anyone knows anything to the contrary id be interested as well!

ive looked into it and as far as i know you cant get either until you have an RN license. (unless you are a paramedic). and most employers will hire you without it and give you the class for free. if anyone knows anything to the contrary id be interested as well!

I suppose it could vary state to state but I believe AHA says you only need be BLS certified and a health care provider to obtain ACLS certification. That certification does not mean that you can utilize all you learn. You would be hampered by the scope of practice. Example: an EMT can get the certification but could only use an AED, do CPR or ventilate a patient. A paramedic could do those but would use a manual defibrillator to recognize the rhythm before determining if shock is advised, start io/ej/iv, intubate, give all meds, crich if needed. A nurse could start iv, give meds, ventilate but not intubate (unless had specialized training), cannot do ej/io (external jugular or interosseous) access etc.

The knowledge is helpful so that you know what's going on or what might be expected but you are limited by your certification depending what it is.

It may vary by hospital. The hospital I did clinicals at my senior year offered ACLS/PALS. I was able to get them both before graduation. I think that future employers (especially small hospitals) may favor candidates that are already certified because it is one less thing they have to worry about. At my current hospital we have to reserve a slot in the ACLS class 6 months in advance.

I just got my ACLS certification on a temp license, so you don't have to have to pass board beforehand, but I do think you have to have graduated. At least here at my hospital and most in my state (AL). :)

If you had a healthcare provider BLS card you were able to take the ACLS class at my JR.College in CA.

But... like celtchick68 said, the knowledge is helpful but you can not utilize those skills if they fall outside your scope of practice.

You can take it before you become a nurse, but you won't be able to do much in a code situation as a student besides compressions and bagging. But I know one student who got her certification in our final semester, and I completed it shortly before graduation.

I had ACLS and PALS since LPN school. I went into the army and was a medic and I have had it off and on during that time. Only reason I would lapse is because in between jobs I found it hard to recertify.