How To Get ACLS and BLS Certified
For Emergency Medical Professionals and Registered Nurses, getting additional certifications in BLS (Basic Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) from the American Heart Association supplements your education and prepares you to handle a cardiac emergency.
What is ACLS and BLS certification?
The BLS Certification teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED) techniques on adults, children, and infants. Participants learn how to identify a cardiac emergency and the best way to respond. They also learn how to do CPR and AED rescues with another rescuer, as well as rescue breathing and relief of choking. The BLS certification is beneficial for the prehospital provider.
The ACLS Certification expands upon the knowledge gained in the BLS course. Participants learn how to manage sudden adult respiratory arrest, VF/VT arrest, asystole, bradycardias, acute stroke, and more. An ACLS-certified provider is also trained to administer medications during these emergency situations.
Getting certified in ACLS and BLS
To become certified in BLS and ACLS, you must take a course at an American Heart Association authorized training center. Health Career Institute is an authorized training center for AHA courses and provides the training that you need to become certified in BLS and ACLS.
The courses reflect the new science from the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. With the latest guidelines, you will be well prepared to handle cardiovascular emergencies on and off the job.
The courses provide a combination of lecture and hands-on simulations. This gives the student the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a supervised environment. Children and infants require special consideration when administering emergency CPR, so the curriculum also includes how to treat children and infants as well as how to treat adults.
The final step toward ACLS and BLS certification is passing the certification exams. During the course, make sure to play close attention to terms and techniques. The exam will cover scenarios that you might encounter while in the field.
Successful completion of the ACLS and BLS courses results in certification. Being prepared for cardiac, choking, and stroke emergencies is important for medical providers. The certification supplements their education and gives them specialized knowledge into cardiac emergency treatment.
