What CPR is best?

[SAHMStudent]

I need to renew my CPR (expires in Jan) and I am wondering which one is best. I understand that some ER's will give you on the job ACLS or PALS, but if I can do it on my own this summer I will. Will having an advanced life support certification be any kind of a leg, a toe? up?

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Either way, you'll have to have BLS along with it. So make sure to take a BLS class.

[SAHMStudent]

Thanks for the heads up. I would have thought the advanced replace the basic.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Nope, everyone is required to take BLS every two years. Then, you can also take ACLS, PALS and/or NRP, depending upon what your job requires. The advanced courses do not go over BLS - they assume you already know it since having BLS certification is required. So yes, BLS is also definitely required.

Just make sure that all certifications are done through AHA, not something like ASHI which is not accepted many/most facilities.

[brownbook]

Your post confused me, maybe you are confused? Every hospital health care provider has to have Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, that includes AED's. (Automated External Defibrillators).

Basic CPR taught in basic first aid classes is usually different from Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers. Basic CPR usually does not cover AED's. But don't hold me to this, CPR lessons change every few years.

ACLS is advanced life support, Advanced Cardiopulmonary Life Support. It is great to have. It builds off your basic CPR for health care providers course. You have to have a current CPR license to take ACLS. ACLS covers a few electrocardiogram rhythms, intravenous medications to give, defibrillation, etc.

PALS is the same as ACLS, but geared towards pediatric patients. Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

To repeat, you have to have Basic Life Support for Healthcare providers. It is great to also get ACLS and PALS. Which one you get first? Usually people get ACLS, unless maybe you are only working a pediatric area of the hospital. But even with that, both are great to have.

[SAHMStudent]

Hmmm....ok I have basic for healthcare providers as required by my school, but was thinking that I could save myself some time when I graduate by renewing now. I thought that I could sub in ACLS for healthcare providers instead of the BLS for healthcare providers. Thanks for letting me know I need both.

I think I will try the ACLS with my husband. He just retired (FF) but wants to keep up his skills depending on his next career path. He has FF buddies who teach AHA BLS and ACLS so I think they will work on my schedule.

Thanks for the quick replies!

[Emergency RN]

Just an FYI, you're required to have an active BCLS card before you can take ACLS or PALS. If your basic cardiac life support certification (CPR) has expired, you won't be allowed to take the ACLS PALS courses until you first renew your BCLS.

[Fribblet]

When I was certified in ACLS, my BLS was automatically renewed with it, which is as it should be.

ACLS and PALS will not give you a "leg up." If you work in the ED, ACLS and PALS will be required. As a new grad, I wasn't required to be ACLS and PALS certified when I started in the ED, but I was expected to have it after 1 year. If you're not a new grad, NOT being ACLS certified when applying for an ICU, ED, or tele job will raise red flags. If you're not working in a pediatric facility or in the ED, there is no need for PALS.

So, does it look bad to have it? No. Will it help you? Only if the area you're applying to requires it for employment.

[country mom]

Also, if you are a new grad and going to take ACLS or PALS for the first time, you really have to know your cardiac rhythms going in. If you do not already have knowledge in this area, you will want to take a basic rhythm class first.