ACLS Certification Question

[trying]

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I have a few weeks before school starts and I was thinking it would be cool to get my ACLS certification before then. Has anybody gone through an ACLS course and if so, how hard was it, and what do they expect you to know before you attend. I already have my EMT-1 and that was really easy to get, so I am hoping the ACLS won't be too bad. Thanks for the help

 

[odommr]

ACLS is a great course. The first time I took a complete course was in 1998. It was a requirement for paramedic certification. At that time the course was really structured, ie. very set lectures etc. AHA released new guidelines in 2000 and things changed a somewhat as far as courses go. Now it is more case or scenario based teaching, which I think was a good move.

As far as your preparation prior to a course, it might be a good idea to just look over some ECG strips. If you can pick out v-fib, v-tach, maybe some other "hallmark" rhythms, you will be ahead of the game.

 

[nachoDoc]

Yes, take the course and grab any text on reading ecg strips, esp SVT, VT, AF, AV blocks. Should be pretty easy if you're comfortable reading an ecg. Then recert is a piece of cake.

Good luck!
👍

 

[ShyRem]

One question. Is an EMT-1 rather like an EMT-basic? that is, in Colorado EMT-basics DON'T learn how to really read an EKG. they don't know the drugs, or the doses, or the effects. If you get an EMT-intermediate or paramedic (both require EMT-B first), then ACLS is mandatory and you get all that information.

Having been an ACLS instructor for several years, many people struggle with drugs and dosages. If you don't know your drugs, study hard. Pharmacology is the number one fail module in paramedic school. Get your dosages down right. Learn how to read your EKG strips cold. Don't worry about axis deviation and advanced EKG stuff like that... the basics should do you fine. Also, learn how to run a cor. Everyone has to take a turn at leading a cor scenario... this means you have to tell your team what to do.

On a lighter note, I thought ACLS was an absolute cake-walk. However, as an ACLS instructor I have failed doctors, many who didn't know the difference between a junctional rhythm and a-fib. Most doctors/med students going through ACLS the first time have NO CLUE what drug doses are supposed to be (one rather memorable experience... this poor med student had no idea about drugs or doses... and since he gave 100mg of lidocaine, he then gave 100 mg of epi!! Good thing it was just class and not a real patient). Many nurses absolutely sweat ACLS because they dont' know their rhythms. Although they are absolutely stellar on drugs.

Give it a try. You've got nothing but a hundred bucks or so to lose. 🙂

 

[obecalp]

Most schools provide an ACLS course before you hit your rotations for free. I would hold off on taking it until then.

 

[trying]

One question. Is an EMT-1 rather like an EMT-basic? that is, in Colorado EMT-basics DON'T learn how to really read an EKG. they don't know the drugs, or the doses, or the effects. If you get an EMT-intermediate or paramedic (both require EMT-B first), then ACLS is mandatory and you get all that information.

Having been an ACLS instructor for several years, many people struggle with drugs and dosages. If you don't know your drugs, study hard. Pharmacology is the number one fail module in paramedic school. Get your dosages down right. Learn how to read your EKG strips cold. Don't worry about axis deviation and advanced EKG stuff like that... the basics should do you fine. Also, learn how to run a cor. Everyone has to take a turn at leading a cor scenario... this means you have to tell your team what to do.

On a lighter note, I thought ACLS was an absolute cake-walk. However, as an ACLS instructor I have failed doctors, many who didn't know the difference between a junctional rhythm and a-fib. Most doctors/med students going through ACLS the first time have NO CLUE what drug doses are supposed to be (one rather memorable experience... this poor med student had no idea about drugs or doses... and since he gave 100mg of lidocaine, he then gave 100 mg of epi!! Good thing it was just class and not a real patient). Many nurses absolutely sweat ACLS because they dont' know their rhythms. Although they are absolutely stellar on drugs.

Give it a try. You've got nothing but a hundred bucks or so to lose. 🙂

Yeah, for our Calif EMT-1, we did not learn to read a single rythm. I think this would be the biggest obstacle. Can anyone recommend a good resource (text or website) for reading strips. Thanks.

 

[ShyRem]

There is a book called "EKG Workout" or workbook... has hundreds of strips. But to learn, get an EKG for dummies book or something. I actually learned (many years ago) on copies of real strips, and my instructor compiled a 2" binder of stuff that we learned in about 8 hours of class time. The strips are really easy once you know what to look for. The drugs and dosages are usually the killer, just because there are so many of them and all the side effects and different dosages. Most of the drugs are weight-dependent.. brush up on your mental algebra skills.

 

[Medicfletch]

Dr. Dubin's Rapid interpretation of EKG's and Arrhythmia Recognition: The art of interpretation. Two good books to teach you the basics of EKG interp and books that will help you in medical school. They have served as valuable references for me since Paramedic school.

 

[nockamura]

I'm surprised you guys didn't need to understand at least the basics of heart rhythms, maybe the National Registry is slightly different than the EMT-1 here with NorCal EMS. We had to identify rhythms for the defib test. They're not that hard: PVC, Vtach, Vfib, Vbrady, asystole, and tombstone T's. The Fundamentals of Emergency Care by Beebe and Funk has 5 of the heart rhythms, but I hear the other widely used EMT book by Beebe is better.