The American Heart Association ACLS is an important certification to medical professionals. It certifies one to be able to perform life saving techniques on patients in emergency conditions such as those having cardiac arrest.
The American Heart Association ACLS is an important certification to medical professionals. It certifies one to be able to perform life saving techniques on patients in emergency conditions such as those having cardiac arrest. Given the importance of this certification, exams are offered before one is approved by being given a card showing his or her qualification to perform ACLS techniques. This is a test that can be taken by any kind of medical provider from doctors, nurses, first aiders and any other persons involved in this line of work. Having such skills could prove significant as cases involving heart problems arise from anywhere anytime. Thus skills gained from ACLS are an invaluable set that could be the only thing that saves a patient.
Whether you are having your AHA ACLS tests after attending off line or online ACLS classes, the preparation process is almost similar and a lot of effort should be directed towards preparing for the exams to ensure you have an easy time when doing it. However, you should not worry too much as there are tips that could help you ease your way through any ACLS test and ensure that at the end of your ACLS training you get the certification that approves you to perform the techniques you have learned in your ACLS classes. The first step when preparing for the AHA ACLS exams is to make use of the zombie notes. These are simple and easy to read cards containing information on various aspects of ACLS information and techniques.
Zombie notes help you memorize the ACLS algorithms and the various facts and information about medication and treatment. This includes ACLS drugs to administer and how to gauge the dosage and when to administer drugs or treatment. With the notes you are able to repeat the hard notes alone and they aid further as they break down the course into simpler units aiding understanding of your ACLS training. You could use these notes even when doing your ACLS course online. The other tactic to use while getting ready for your AHA ACLS is to make use of the ECC handbook. This is a great resource and produced by your main examiners, the American Heart Association (AHA). This has clear guidelines on the best way of treatment and how to handle different emergency cases involving different age groups.
The ECC handbook is important for an ACLS student as it has evidence based information thus will see you in the right track given that much of the AHA ACLS tests will be based on what to do in different emergency situations. Lastly, one has to have taken a course in BCLS and EKG. For the case of BCLS, it is a compulsory requirement before one is allowed to take the ACLS and thus it is important to get that before you start your ACLS training. With the EKG it is a great way and it does not involve a lot of preparation you could take it as you continue your ACLS training. The two provide invaluable information on different situations and help in picking the right choice of how to proceed.
Resources:
Nick Baker is the author of this article on ACLS Course.
Find more information on ACLS Course Online here.
Author: Baker Nick.
This author has published 2 articles so far. More info about the author is coming soon.