PALS and ACLS question

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Hi Im currently a third year nursing student in Hawaii and just finished my Fundamental Clinical Rotation on a Progressive Care Unit and will be doing my Med-surg and Maternity/Peds rotations this coming school year. I currently have my BLS and I was wondering when I should or when I can do my ACLS and PALS course and get certified? Should I do it this summer so I can be ACLS and PALS certified before school starts or do it this winter so I am at least PALS certified by January 2013. I plan on becoming a Pediatric Emergency Nurse.

Thanks

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Specializes in LDRP.

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!

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Specializes in Emergent pre-hospital care as a medic.
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.

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Specializes in Medical ICU.

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.

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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). :)

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Specializes in Breast Cancer, Oncology, Pulmonology.

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.

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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.

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Specializes in Primary Care; Child Advocacy; Child Abuse; ED.

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.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
hi im currently a third year nursing student in hawaii and just finished my fundamental clinical rotation on a progressive care unit and will be doing my med-surg and maternity/peds rotations this coming school year. i currently have my bls and i was wondering when i should or when i can do my acls and pals course and get certified? should i do it this summer so i can be acls and pals certified before school starts or do it this winter so i am at least pals certified by january 2013. i plan on becoming a pediatric emergency nurse.

thanks

as a nursing student you will not be required to take them, usually, i would check with your school. even if you are in the situation that a baby or child crashes your only responsibility will to call for help, maybe start cpr (as you will be surrounded by staff), and get out of the way.

your goal to be a pediatric nurse is an admirable one. most pedied's require some pedi experience and strongly prefer previous ed experience.

these days not only acls and pals but enpc, tncc are the preferred certifications.

enpc

ena developed the emergency nursing pediatric course (enpc) to improve the care of the pediatric patient by increasing the knowledge, skill and confidence of the emergency nurse. this two day course provides core-level pediatric knowledge and psychomotor skills needed to care for pediatric patients in the emergency care setting. enpc is the only pediatric emergency nursing course written by pediatric nurse expert

tncc

ena developed and implemented the trauma nursing core course (tncc) for national and international dissemination as a means of identifying a standardized body of trauma nursing knowledge. the tncc (provider) is a two day course designed to provide the learner with cognitive knowledge and psychomotor skills. the purpose of tncc is to present core-level knowledge, refine skills and build a firm foundation in trauma nursing.

http://www.ena.org/coursesandeducation/pages/default.aspx

i wish you the best on your nursing journey:d

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