How to Pass Your ACLS Class

How to Pass Your ACLS Class with Flying Colors

You area credentialed HealthCare Provider and for any number of reasons need an American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification.

Whether you need it to beef up your Resume, or need it as part of your specialty, this can be a scary class that some people dread taking.  This article will discuss key points to help with your success and hopefully eliminate any fear or anxiety you may have about attending this course.

What is Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)? 

In a nutshell, ACLS is the next level of care beyond Basic Life Support CPR with use of the AED. 

DuringACLS, HealthCare Providers use a whole different skill set and knowledge base of starting IV’s and administering medications in an effort to resuscitate the victim. 

While this skill set and knowledge is very crucial, administering medications and starting IV’s will not be as effective if we don’t go back to basics with HIGH QUALITY CPR.  

Key Points for Success:

The following are key points to not only expose you to what you can expect in your ACLS class, but better prepare you for what’s to come:

1. Purchase the Mandatory Textbook.  All the information you will need for class is here, and you can use it during testing time!
2. Take the MANDATORY ACLS Pre-Test.  Access to this Pre-Test can be found on page ii of your ACLS Textbook.
3. Brush up on your EKG’s and Pharmacolog

The AHAmakes components such as the Textbook and completion of the Pre-Test MANDATORYin an effort to help with your success. 

The Pre-Test is also insight to your class, the kind of information you will be exposed to along with how it is presented. 

You can also take it as many times as you like until you are comfortable and understand the information.  Many AHA Training Centers also recognize this time and effort by giving additional Continuing Education Units too!

Brushingup on EKG’s and Pharmacology might sound a little easier said than done. 

The truth is if you are in a position that requires an ACLS certification, you should have a basic understanding of Pharmacology and EKG Rhythm Recognition. 

Now for the good news, since the early ’90’s when I took my first ACLS class there haven’t been any new EKG Rhythms invented or recognized. 

That being the case means you can refer back to any information you have from when you learned about EKG Rhythm Recognition when you went to school for your credential.  In my opinion, Pharmacology has also gotten easier over time as well.  

TheAmerican Heart Association (AHA) updates each curriculum standard every 5years.  During this time the AHA is constantly conducting case studies and research in Emergency Cardiovascular Care to help us improve patient outcome. 

This being the case, as science evolves and discoveries are made, the number of medications recognized for patients in cardiac arrest has also decreased.

Based on all their research, the AHA has systematically removed medications they feel are not beneficial to patient outcome.  

Again, with no new EKG Rhythms being invented and code medications being reduced taking ACLS isn’t as overwhelming as it used to be. 

Your Instructor, the ACLS Pre-Test, your ACLS Textbook, and the American Heart Associations ACLS(video-based, instructor-led) course will provide everything you need to tie this information together and have a successful and positive class!