Posted by Catherine Brinkley RN on Nov 20th 2019
What is Advanced Cardiac Life Support?
Advanced Cardiac Life Support abbreviated as ACLS, is a specialty 2 year certification required for some healthcare providers who work in critical areas of the hospital such as the emergency department, operating room, trauma unit, intensive care unit or critical care and stroke units. It is also required for paramedics and some EMTs who work on ambulances, as well as physicians and nurse practitioners.
This specialty certification is awarded to those who complete the American Heart Association ACLS or Advanced Life Support Course. The course is offered as a classroom course, and can also be partially taken on line and completed with an in person hands on skills testing session where students are given the opportunity to practice the skills they have learned and then be tested on these skills. The online course at www.onlineaha.org is called Heartcode ACLS Part 1. The hands on skills practice and testing portion is called Heartcode ACLS Parts 2 and 3 or ACLS Skills Session. The Skills session is done in person with an ACLS instructor.
The course consists of Basic Life Support for adults, learning to use a bag mask device, and AED or automated external defibrillator and a pocket mask. The course also includes administration of intravenous lifesaving medications such as epinephrine, atropine, adenosine, amiodarone, lidocaine, fluid boluses and a dopamine drip. Skills taught are airway management with basic and advanced airways, cardiac rhythm interpretation, vascular access and intraosseous access, introduction to treatment algorithms for cardiac arrest, acute ischemic stroke, heart attack and ST elevation myocardial infarction or STEMI, asystole, bradycardia, hypotension, tachycardia both with and without a pulse and ventricular fibrillation or VF. Students are taught the use of a defibrillator and the corresponding shock and cardioversion doses for specific cardiac arrhythmias.
Students will then practice the role of a team leader through five patient scenarios using CPR, a bag mask device, IV access and IV drug administration as well as cardiac pacing, cardioversion and defibrillation.
At the end of the course students will take a 50 question open book written exam with a passing score of 84% or higher. Students will then be tested on two patient scenarios, one requiring airway management, and one cardiac rhythm disturbance. Upon completion of the course students are issued an American Heart Association ACLS Provider Certification via E-Card to the email provided on the course roster.
Here's the link to help you find an ACLS Classroom course and/or the skills session near you:
If you have any questions please email Catherine Brinkley at admin@savingamericanhearts.com or call (719) 551-1222. Texting is best as I'm usually teaching a class.