PALS and ACLS Preperation

A number of my students come to their ACLS or PALS provider and refresher classes unprepared. The funny thing is, the don't have to. With the student manuals in hand, they can walk through the door aces.

An easy way to prepare for your PALS class is to pull out the supplemental manual. In this manual, you will find most of the information you need to do well. My first tip is to page through the manual and look at the algorithms. Read through each algorithm. Pay particular attention to what is in the green boxes. This is important tidbits. Notice that they usually have something to do with the ABCs. Remember, keep it simple and practice high quality CPR.

Speaking of CPR, please go through the CPR/AED Competency Testing at the front of the manual. The biggest confusion I see with students us when to do 30:2 or 15:2. Even if you just recently took BLS, a little brush up will not hurt.

Next, look again at the algorithms. What you see in the blue boxes is your action steps. You will need to know these steps after you have assessed, categorized and decided what to do.

Throughout the manual, you will find Learning Station Competency Checklists. These are the same checklists your instructor will use to test you out. A little study of these will let you know what your instructor will be looking for.

You will find the same thing applies to the ACLS suplimental manual. Pay Close attention to the BLS Primary Survey and the ACLS Secondary Survey. These two surveys are the heart of ACLS. Also pay close attention to the Foundation Facts throughout the manual.

As with PALS, ACLS is based on high quality CPR. Brush up on your CPR/AED skills.

Look at your ACLS Algorithms. Green boxes are the meat and blue boxes are your actions. remember to assess and reassess.

You will also find,like you did in the PALS manual, Learning Station Competency Checklists. You will also find the actual checkoff sheets you instructor will use for your Megacode.

With a little preperation, you can come into your PALS and ACLS class a well prepared provider. Who knows, it might even help to aliviate your test anxiety. angziety