Possible to take NRP/ACLS while unemployed?

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 10, 2009

Yes, you can take these while unemployed/on your own. Of course, it's cheaper (no cost to you) if you do it while employed and your employer pays for the course(s).

McBx3 · Nov 10, 2009

Thanks, sirI! Any pointers on where to find out about classes? I live in a small rural area and have been unable to come across classes, even on the course websites searches themselves...

P.S. I love the quotes in your siggy!

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 10, 2009

Have you checked AHA online? You can find ACLS courses this way:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3012360

(thanks - i love that first quote, too - LOL!!)

CEG · Nov 10, 2009

I went to the Farm to take NRP when I was a student. It was $$$ but also awesome.

You could try calling local hospitals to see if the are offering it and if you could join. I would think there is a fairly decent chance you could take it for free for a low cost or no cost.

chare · Nov 10, 2009

the neonatal resuscitation program (nrp) is offered in either the traditional or blended format and advanced cardiac life support (acls) programs are offered in either the traditional, blended, or online format.

using the traditional format, you go to a training center and spend 12 - 16 hours (for acls) watching videos, doing skills review and evaluation, and complete the written test. at the end of the program you receive a course completion/certification card. this is probably what most people are familiar with.

the blended format is exactly that, it is a combination of both online and classroom training. in a blended program you will complete the cognitive/didactic portion on line, as well as complete the written test on line. upon completion of the test you print out your course completion form to take to an instructor where you then complete the skills review and testing portion. upon completion of the skills review/testing you are issued your course completion/certification card. there is generally no distinction between completion of either a traditional or blended course.

online courses, as the name implies, are offered totally online. these programs consist only of the cognitive/didactic portion, without skills review/testing. personally, i would not take an online course without skills review/testing as some facilities might not consider this to satisfy j[color=#333333]c standard pc.02.01.11.

if you are interested in attending a traditional nrp course, you can use the nrp - online data base to locate an upcoming course.

information on the blended program option is available at the following site: nrp online evaluation overview. if you opt to take the blended course, the cost of the online portion is $29.00, and you have 14 days to complete the entire online program. after completion of the online portion you can locate an instructor to complete your skills evaluation using the nrp - online data base website. there might be an additional charge for the skills evaluation. i would also suggest contacting an instructor prior to ensure availability of a skills evaluation prior to enrolling in the course.

the 5th edition of the textbook of neonatal resuscitation is available on line from the aap bookstore for $49.95 or from amazon.com for $27.49.

if you are interested in attending a traditional aha acls course, you can use the aha ecc course connector to locate an upcoming course.

information on the aha blended program option is available at the following site: aha e-learning acls. if you opt to take the blended course, the cost of the online portion is $105.00. i could not readily locate on the site, but i believe that you have 14 days to complete the entire online portion. after completion of the online portion you can locate an instructor to complete your skills evaluation using the aha ecc course connector website. there might be an additional charge for the skills evaluation. i would also suggest contacting an instructor prior to ensure availability of a skills evaluation prior to enrolling in the course.

the current edition of the acls provider manual is available from channing bete for $28.50 or from amazon.com for $27.08.

there are several acls preparatory books available on the market. i am unaware of any such books for nrp although the might be available as well. personally, i don’t think that any of these books are either necessary as all of the material necessary to pass either course is in the provider manual and will be reviewed during the course. however, i do strongly suggest that you read and study the material prior to attending the course.

i would recommend that you purchase a copy of the handbook of emergency cardiovascular care for healthcare providers 2008. this is an extremely useful reference and includes information on acls, bls, pals, and nrp. it is available from channing bete for $15.95 or amazon.com for 17.95.

lastly, of you are interested in reading more regarding the science and rationale behind what is included in the provider manual, the 2005 american heart association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care are all available online.

in addition to the aha, there are at least three other organizations that have developed acls training programs, the american safety and health institute (ashi), american medical resource institute, and eacls. these courses are offered in a variety of formats: traditional, blended, and online. i have no experience with any of these programs, and provide the following as information only.

the american safety and health institute offers both ashi acls. this course is currently available only in the traditional format; however their online courses indicates that they are presently looking at developing some form of either a blended or online programs. information regarding locating an ashi testing center can be located using the ashi training center locator.

eacls is a collaboration between the american college of emergency physicians (acep) and bartlett jones publishing, and they currently offer the eacls course. the eacls course can be taken totally online for continuing education credits only, or in either a traditional or blended format which results in receipt of a course completion card. information regarding locating an eacls testing center can be located using the eacls education center.

the american medical resource institute offers acls in an entirely online version only.

i hope this information was helpful. :specs:

McBx3 · Nov 10, 2009

Chare - thank you SOOOOO much for all the information! I will definitely be checking out all the links you posted Thank you again for taking the time to do that for me!

CEG - thanks, after I study up, I will give the hospital a call and see if I can get in on the classes! That's how I did my BLS, but wasn't sure if they would offer the others to non-employees... guess it couldn't hurt to ask!