Should I become ACLS or PALS certified?

Specialties Pediatric

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Specializes in Pediatric.

I have been working as a nurse in pediatric home health for a year now and I'm trying to transition into a hospital. I am pretty sure I want to stay in pediatrics or neonatal/L&D. I am trying to market myself to prospective hospitals and I was wondering if I should become ACLS or PALS certified or both? It's not easy getting onto a ped/neonatal/L&D unit so I might be offered an adult unit. What do you think I should do? Thanks for your input....

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I am recently a new grad, still looking for job, I am trying to get more certifications to make myself marketable, I tried to take PALS bc it's scheduled on may 24-25th, then ACLS on August, but the lady told me I have to take ACLS first. So either way from what I learned from this lady, ACLS then PALS but I am not sure if this is true nationwide. Also want to ask you, how did you find the home healthcare, some of my friends warned me from doing it, and it is the only thing available in my area. do they give you training or they just send you to clients and you have to figure it all out? Any input will be really appreciated.

I hope my post make sense to you.

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I suggest PALS and NRP if those are your preferred specialties. I took PALS without taking ACLS first, just needed current BLS.

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Specializes in PICU, ED, Infection Control, Education, cardiology.

While getting those certs will be great, I would only get them now if your employer pays for them. Currently, I work for a large hospital system. All these classes are free, just gotta show up and take the class. With that said, most employers will send you to the class and cover the cost when you take a job. This is why I say to only take them if there is no cost to you.

Not sure where your from in the country, but the job market here in upstate NY is still really good. So that is another factor.

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Not sure where your from in the country, but the job market here in upstate NY is still really good. So that is another factor.

This is great to know! I just got accepted to St. Joe's weekend program and was starting to worry after reading about the horrible job market.

Sorry about the hijack, please forgive me!

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I am from Rhode Island, and the job market here sucks. no hospital jobs unless if you have strong connections, few in nursing homes and home healthcare and even these, they require experience. How do you suppose to get experience and you are fresh from school and nobody is giving you the chance to get that experience. Sorry I just have to vent.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

Take both! And NRP like kxc said. If the hospital you're looking at will pay for it, good on you. If not, dish out the cash- find a reputable training center and think of it as an investment in your career/knowledge base.

I know some people who opt to pay for their ACLS/PALS/NRP certifications from an awesome training center over getting trained on site for free. I suppose what's the point in having the certification if you don't fully understand or feel comfortable having it. :)

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Specializes in Emergency.

As an LPN, can you push iv meds? A huge part of acls/pals is drug administration and that includes meds that are critical care infusions once the pt is stabilized.

I don't know about the LPN scope of practice in NJ but I suggest checking it out before laying down the cash for the classes.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Per my fundamentals instructor LPN's in NJ cannot push IV medications. They can start/stop IV's, hang IV fluids (not blood), and flush IV locks with saline. Most hospitals in NJ won't hire LPNS, especially for labor & delivery, neonatal (nursery or NICU), and it's rare for an LPN to find a job in NJ in hosptial based pediatrics. Some hospitals in NJ hiring LPN's are restricted to med-surg units if they are hiring at LPN's all. LPN's can't work critical care in NJ at this time. The only LPN's that I know working in L/D, nursery or pediatrics took a job as a PCA/nursing assistant.

Many ACLS/PALS/NRP instructor sites in NJ won't accept individuals who's scope of practice does not permit intubation & iv push medications and the classes are restricted to MD/DO, RN, RRT, and EMT-P (paramedic).

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While getting those certs will be great, I would only get them now if your employer pays for them. Currently, I work for a large hospital system. All these classes are free, just gotta show up and take the class. With that said, most employers will send you to the class and cover the cost when you take a job. This is why I say to only take them if there is no cost to you.

Not sure where your from in the country, but the job market here in upstate NY is still really good. So that is another factor.

Only good if u have ur BSN, right?

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

seems like a lot of money to invest when you are not sure what use you will have for the information. L&D nurses have different cert needs than Nursery, etc. We do not expect our new grads to have any of these certs and, to be honest, I do not believe they mean anything without experience. If you get an interview and learn that having the cert would make you more marketable, tell the interviewer you have already planned to take that course. We educate our staff free of charge.

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Specializes in Peds and PICU.

PALS is hard to "get" unless you've had some experience with acutely ill kids. That's why our new people wait about 6 months to take it. And, as was previously mentioned, there is the issue with scope of practice. Most skills and assessment pieces in PALS is outside the LPNs scope in NC and therefore a useless certification.

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