Question re ACLS

I start my new job in a few weeks, and I was told I would need to pass an ECG exam within 30 days of hire. I asked HR if there was some sort of course or training, and I was told "dont worry about that until you start"one of many nonanswers to my many questions. In nursing school our ECG class was literally a demo done on 1 student while 75 of us gathered around to look on.

I am going to renew my BLS and the instructor on the phone told me ACLS will help me pass the ECG exam. Should I go ahead with the ACLS or just renew my BLS and worry about ECG after I start my new job? I am not sure how in depth this exam will be or what i will need to know for it. Do you think ACLS will be adequate?

From My experience you need to know EKG before you can pass ALCS> I mean the drugs you give depend on the rythm. YOu can probably pass ACLS but if you don't know any rythms you will have a hard time. I would take the initial dysrythmia recognotion class then take ACLS..

Good luck

I'm a student and just took acls. There are about 9 rhythms that show up on the test and are pretty easy to learn. I think to really learn them well you should purchase a workbook, Rapid Interpretation of EKG's should help you learn them well.

I wouldn't even THINK about taking ACLS before having those rythms down. Just buy/rent a book about them and search online for sample ACLS questions so you know what you are getting yourself into. Good luck and congrats on the job!

I took ACLS before I could really read a rhythm strip. I did, however, spend a lot of time before I went to class with the ACLS materials learning the lethal dysrhythmias.

http://www.skillstat.com/ECG_Sim_demo.html

:)

I agree with all of the above posters. You need to know EKG interpretation before taking ACLS. It just teaches you what to do with them- not what they are.

I would recommend a rhythm interpretation course first (or good reference book; one that keeps it simple).

Just some points to remember with regard to rhythms that I found helpful when learning them ages ago:

1) is the rate fast or slow? i.e. bradycardia or tachycardia

2) is the QRS segment wide or narrow? will help identify where the rhythm is generating (ventricles vs atria).

3) is the rhythm regular or irregular? i.e. atrial fibrillation=irregular; normal sinus rhythm=regular (your looking to see if the distance between the QRS segments are consistent (normal sinus) or vary (a. fib)).

These are just some of the basics to help you get through learning the most basic (and common) rhythms you will be tested on and often encounter in practice.

Hope this helps. Take it slow. Ask questions. Get a good foundation.

Check with the AHA for an ECG course which is recommended for those preparing to take ACLS. It is usually a weekend course which may include the pharmacology.

Class locator:

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

Dubin's book, Rapid Interpretation of EKGs, is good and I do recommend it even if I have an unfavorable opinion about the author himself.

Well gees, and HR people like to act like they are looking for individuals who are pro-active. But, what does one expect from the people who think up the nonsense "Mission Statements." (Those are a bunch of BS, and laughable.) It may of little concern to him or her, but it is a very good question. I would ask the manager of the unit.

I don't understand why everyone is saying you won't be able to pass ACLS without having all the rhythms down. Granted you will need to know quite a few to pass, but its not anything you cant learn in a few days. I had learned a few rhythms in nursing school but having never had to look at them I forgot it all. I signed up for ACLS a couple months after school, was confused with the rhythms but it all fell into place. I only started studying a few days before the class and I am by no means a good memorizer so I actually learned the differences.

You can pass ACLS w/o taking an EKG class. Just study :)