The American Heart Association ACLS course builds on the foundation of lifesaving Basic -Life support for Healthcare providers skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous, high quality CPR. The course highlights the importance of team dynamics and communication, systems of care and immediate post cardiac arrest care. ACLS also covers airway management and related pharmacology. Skills are taught in large group sessions and small group learning and testing stations where case based scenarios are presented.
This course is intended for:
Physicians
Nurses
Emergency medical technicians
Paramedics
Staff in intensive care units and emergency or critical-care departments
Other healthcare professional who may respond to a cardiovascular emergency.
This course covers:
Airway management
Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device and use of an AED
Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team
Effective Resuscitation Team Dynamics
Key changes in advanced cardiovascular life support, reflecting the 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
Management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stroke
Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia
Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
Related pharmacology
Students must pass a written exam and skills test in order to qualify for an ACLS provider course completion card.
AHA requires all students have a current text book for the course.