PALS provider..need prep help!

calivianya, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2015

I just took PALS a few days ago for the first time. A lot of places require the precourse self assessment before you go. I know I had to bring my transcript for PALS/ACLS or I would have been turned away at the door, so just don't forget to take it. Also don't let it scare you - it is way harder than the actual PALS test.

I would say what you should study depends on what you are currently proficient in. If you are ACLS certified, the cardiac stuff is extremely similar and the in-class review time should be enough for you to master the material before the megacode. I personally don't work with peds but I do work with critically ill patients, so the shock stuff was second nature but I have never seen croup, never had an asthma patient admitted for asthma exacerbation, etc. so that was the toughest stuff for me.

Don't sweat the drug doses. Only know the cardiac ones for the most part - my instructors cared if I knew the IVP doses for epi, amiodarone, atropine, adenosine, boluses, etc. off the top of my head but nobody asked me what amount of dexamethasone I'd give. You're going to have one of those color-coded tapes in your megacode and that has the drug doses based on weight on it anyway, so you won't have to do math for the megacode unless you just want to.

Know your CBC/ABCDE/SAMPLE. You have to follow that format for the megacode, although my instructors were nice enough to leave those letters up on the board as a prompt. They will want you to go through them in order.

You will have one cardiac and one shock/respiratory megacode. Once again, the cardiac one is going to be super basic if you are ACLS certified, but with the respiratory/shock ones you really don't know what you're going to get so I would be sure to think through and see if you can differentiate between the types of shock and respiratory problems by differential diagnosis. If your patient's lung sounds are wet it could be cardiogenic shock or lung tissue disease, as an example. You can have wheezing with both asthma and anaphylaxis. You will be running a temp with both septic shock and possibly everything respiratory if the etiology of the problem is viral/bacterial. Maybe even with hypovolemic shock if the patient is hypovolemic because he/she had an infection that caused diarrhea/vomiting. You need to think about what specific clues are going to go with which disease states.

One thing that showed up in a megacode that was NOT in the PALS book anywhere that I recalled had to do with reversal agents, so I would know those and their generic names. I feel like that was kind of a dirty trick so I have no problem mentioning it. Fortunately I got that scenario and I knew my reversal agents cold beforehand but I mentioned one of them and my team members didn't know what it was and/or didn't know the generic name for it, which is what's listed on the color-coded tape so you can find the dosage.

Honestly, though - it really wasn't bad. They do a good job of reviewing the material with you before you are tested on it. You will be fine.

Satsun · Apr 6, 2015

Wow Calivianya thank u so much!! That helps alot..i am acls certified and knowing that they will review it all in class beforehand helps... thanks again! í ½í¸„

calivianya, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2015

You're welcome. :)

OldDude · Apr 6, 2015

I have a a one page condensation of the information I think will make your PALS experience a lot easier. Send me your email address and I'll forward it to you.

chare · Apr 6, 2015

Definitely do the pretest and have it with you. This is an AHA requirement, and every training center I have been affiliated with will turn you away without it.

If you have the pocket cards that came with the text, bring them as well as you should be allowed to use them during your evaluation scenarios. Also, in keeping with the team concept of resuscitation, when you are team leader in your evaluation stations it is acceptable to ask members of the team for suggestions.

Good luck!

Satsun · Apr 6, 2015

I have a a one page condensation of the information I think will make your PALS experience a lot easier. Send me your email address and I'll forward it to you.

i couldn't PM for some reason.. so it's [email protected]. leme know so i can delete when you've sent it.

appreciate it mucho ^_^

and thanks everyone for commenting, it helps

OldDude · Apr 6, 2015

;8435277']i couldn't PM for some reason.. so it's... leme know so i can delete when you've sent it.
appreciate it mucho ^_^
and thanks everyone for commenting, it helps

Done...

Satsun · Apr 6, 2015

Done...

thanks much, appreciate it :)

dont really know how to delete my comment lol. oh well