Why Acquiring An ACLS Certification Is Important For Medical Professionals

Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) was once an optional certification primarily held by first responders in the field and higher-level professionals. It has since started to become a requirement for nurses and nearly anyone who is working regularly in a healthcare setting. Some people have chosen to avoid taking ACLS classes believing that basic life support (BLS) is sufficient. There are also a few professions within the medical field where there is some doubt about whether this type of advanced training is actually necessary in a hospital setting with a code team available. The truth is that ACLS classes are a valuable and important use of time for anyone in the healthcare industry for a number of reasons.

Learn To Handle A Wide Range Of Emergencies

ACLS classes teach students the techniques that are necessary to stabilize patients and prevent damage to the body that BLS does not cover. The advanced training foes beyond simply opening airways and instead explains how to handle a range of emergencies that include everything from an overdose of narcotics to a baby that has suddenly stopped breathing. The training provides the skills that are necessary to prevent a cardiac event, to administer the correct medications to mitigate damage from a stroke and techniques that will keep a patient alive until more complete medical care arrives.

Respond Effectively Anywhere

Hospitals and other healthcare institutions have started to require completion of ACLS classes because they create professionals who are able to handle medical emergencies in any situation. This is especially true in hospitals where the arrival of a code team in response to an emergency could be delayed because of another patient or because of the distance to the location. The care that someone with ACLS training provides will allow a patient to survive for the critical few extra minutes that it might take in order for the code team to arrive. This same training can be used to stabilize someone who has collapsed in any location until first responders arrive with professional equipment.