Any value in taking ACLS/PALS refreshers before residency starts?

[fiznat]

My CPR/ACLS/PALS certifications expire in May, and my school is offering refresher courses that will take place right before graduation. Naturally they cost money, which is in short supply. This might be program specific (or maybe not?), but I'm wondering if you folks think it would be of any value to take the refresher now so I don't have to take the initial certification courses early in intern year? I'd like to save myself the trouble down the road if possible, but I'm worried that some programs might make me re-take the initial courses regardless of whether I have a current certification.

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[MrGrrrMonster]

Take it and call it a day. Residency may pay for it, but if its no trouble to you then you might as well get it out of the way.

 

[gutonc]

You're going to get a free "refresher" course in 4 months. Why would you pay for one now? Save your money and your time off.

 

[fiznat]

Because it wouldn't be refresher courses then, it would have to be the initial certification courses which are significantly longer.

 

[gutonc]

Half day plus the mega-code.

 

[fiznat]

Initial courses are 10-12 hours, recert classes are 5-6 hours. Each. That's a significant amount of time. I promise I'm asking a real question here...

Source: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/CPRAn...-Classroom_UCM_306643_Article.jsp#mainContent

 

[gutonc]

The initial cert course I took to start residency was ~5h in lecture and a couple hours for the megacode. It was run by the EM department for a hundred or so new residents/fellows. It's not the community college ACLS course that RNs and paramedics and whoever else takes. They power through the material because they're teaching it to physicians, make sure that you get your stupid merit badge and then move on.

I promise I'm giving a real answer.

Obviously, if your program doesn't provide a free course for you as part of the paid orientation then, well, do whatever. But if they do, you're stupid to spend your own time and money on it.

 

[maxxor]

My CPR/ACLS/PALS certifications expire in May, and my school is offering refresher courses that will take place right before graduation. Naturally they cost money, which is in short supply. This might be program specific (or maybe not?), but I'm wondering if you folks think it would be of any value to take the refresher now so I don't have to take the initial certification courses early in intern year? I'd like to save myself the trouble down the road if possible, but I'm worried that some programs might make me re-take the initial courses regardless of whether I have a current certification.

You should wait until match day and then ask your program. My program did not provide ACLS/BLS, and we were expected to them on our own out in the community. Many big hospitals with lots of residents will include it as part of orientation, so if you gotta do it with everyone else in your residency class, it probably won't be as big of a drag.

 

[Raryn]

You're going to get a free "refresher" course in 4 months. Why would you pay for one now? Save your money and your time off.

It depends on your program. Some (like Gutonc says) may just give you a free course during orientation, while others (including the one I'm at) may require you to have a valid certificate before you can start orientation/residency. Wait until the match and find out then.

 

[fiznat]

Good call, thanks everyone.

 

[Trogghunter]

Your class may be during your orientation... if you're already certified, then you can use those 2 days to relax while your classmates are doing acls on the last weekend before residency starts. I did my 6hr recertification before mine expired in april. I didnt get reimbursed, but the $100 I spent was worth a free weekend in june.

 

[fiznat]

Yes thank you! This is exactly what I was thinking as well... I'll give the program a call and make sure I can do it this way, but I definitely agree about the free June weekends!