i am in the process of enrolling for the acls (advanced cardiovascular life support) course.
two questions i have for you individuals who have completed the course:
--> do i have to take an ecg course?
--> did anybody here take the acls course without any ecg knowledge?
i asked the questions above because when i went to the heartsharetraining.com website, it says that ecg knowledge is required before enrolling into an acls course.
any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance fellow nurses!
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I know basic ECG stuff, but when it comes to detail, that's where I need help so I decided to post if anybody took the ACLS with some ECG or even without ECG knowledge.
I'm just worried that I might not be able to hang with the ACLS course since I only know basic stuff.
Your right however when you said that taking an ECG class won't hurt since it will definitely benefit me in the long run.
Hey! Thanks for the link. The question now is, should I use the one you posted or go for the basic ECG course? Hmmm...
I post refreshers.....take the course and get CEU's/ That way your are sure to get what you need.
Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
needless to say, this won't be only useful when you take the acls but also when you spot a narrow complex v-tach in your pt. monitor and make the doctor aware of your findings with the ecg strip on hand... just saying
I have taken ACLS 12 times over the last 25 years and also have taught it. Relax, everything you need to know will be taught in the class. it's good to go over the ACLS book and take the pretest. The rhythms mainly talk about "too fast, too slow, and blocks." Congrats on having the initiative to take it, many nurses (as well as, physicians are afraid of it)
The ACLS course is taught in different venues.
The course you taught must have been different than any I have taken over the years.
They were NEVER "mainly talk about "too fast, too slow, and blocks."
The last time I recertified , after 30 years of nursing in critical care it took all I had to pass!
The instructor challenged each and every rhythm interpretation and the treatment.
Even used the old trick of having his little finger on the edge the dummy during defibrillation.
I'm clear.. you're clear... we're all clear. Zap! He actually fell over to prove his point on clearing the scene.
I would never take an ACLS course unless I knew my rhythms, drugs and protocols in my sleep.
Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
i would never take an acls course unless i knew my rhythms, drugs and protocols in my sleep.
i can almost visualize you in your sleep saying " no is a first-degree (incomplete) heart block, the first-degree heart block takes place where there is an incomplete block" snore....
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN
20,908 Posts
I post refreshers.....take the course and get CEU's/ That way your are sure to get what you need.