will ACLS/PALS boost resume of new grad

[djmsailor]

I will be graduating from an accelerated program in December. I am very interested in getting an ED position after graduation and I know that several hospitals in my region have ED fellowships for new grads. Can anyone advice as to whether taking ACLS/PALS on my own will 'boost' by resume to the top of the pile, or am I just wasting money? Any advice is appreciated.

[CVmursenary]

it would likely help some because they won't have to pay to train you in that and it shows your interested in life support.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I do not agree. ACLS is almost meaningless unless you have some experience to back it with with and so far you do not. We discourage new grads from getting these certs till after hire. You might talk to HR in a few facilities.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

If you want ER//ICU/Tele yes, although if hired the hospital will pay for this training. Lately ACLS is a good thing for medsurg as some hospitals are tele all adult beds.

See how much cash you are gonna have left to live on. Getting a job might take a loooooong time. Don't pay for these courses if cash is at all a thought. They won't "get" you a job.

[djmsailor]

Thanks to all for the advice.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

I have them, and I became liscensed in July and still don't have a job. I did get a nice email from a ED coordinator stating that I did all the right things getting the certs, but they can not take on another new grad. So if EDs in your area are hiring, it may help, but I know in my case it hasn't.

I can not even get hired at LTC, they see that I have worked as a CNA in the ED, and they think I wont stick around once they hire me

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I think depending what sort of new grad job you are trying to get it could be helpful. Some jobs I have applied for as a staff nurse will only consider nurses with ACLS and/or PALS. So, definitely useful.

[SLM3]

Yes, it will help, especially for ER positions. It's gotten so competitive that you really have to go so far as the get these certs to stand out in a competitive applicant pool, which ER residencies usually are. I'm a new grad in CA and I had avoided getting them for months because, well, I'm unemployed & broke, and I assumed I could get a job without it & have them provide it once I started working. In this job market, that's just not the case anymore. I finally decided to get them after being rejected for an ER new grad position because they specifically told me most of the other applicants had ACLS & PALS, so I didn't have a chance.

It depends on where you're looking & how competitive the job market is. It's also pricey, so you definitely have weigh the pros & cons. But ya, since it's for an ER residency, I say it will definitely help.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

I do not agree. ACLS is almost meaningless unless you have some experience to back it with with and so far you do not. We discourage new grads from getting these certs till after hire. You might talk to HR in a few facilities.

I agree you can get all the certificates you want, no background in it...doesn't mean squat to me when I peer interview.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I do not agree. ACLS is almost meaningless unless you have some experience to back it with with and so far you do not. We discourage new grads from getting these certs till after hire. You might talk to HR in a few facilities.

Disagree. We look at both the certifications and the effort involved to obtain them. Do anything you can to set yourself above/apart from the majority.

[Larry77, RN]

I agree with the above poster...we look at certs and it shows that you have done everything you can to get into a higher acute environment. The only cert I wouldn't recommend getting ahead of getting hired would be TNCC and maybe ENPC these courses are much more beneficial once you have been exposed to some trauma and sick kiddos.

If the dept has to chose between one new grad without any certs and one that has both their ACLS and PALS which one do you think they will look at first?

I sat in on an interview today and we raised our eyebrows and were impressed when she listed all her certs because we actually get "experienced" ED nurses without TNCC, ENPC and other certs who apply.

[nitenurselorraine]

Yes it definetly will. Besides it will probably be required once you start, which also means they wiill pay for it. You could always study and be ready to take it and tell them that you considered doing it before you started, but are ready to do it as soon as possible. Either way it will look good that you are prepared. Good luck.