Nurses in every specialty need to complete a basic life support (BLS) certification as part of standardized training. This essential course will teach you fundamental life support skills and help you know how to respond in life-threatening emergencies.
When you are confident in your BLS skills and consistently participate in continuing education for nurses, you’ll be a better caregiver and be able to better withstand the stress of your nursing career.
Here’s what you need to know about BLS certifications.
What You Need to Know About Your Initial BLS Certification
If you think that you’ll need to spend your day off in an in-person classroom environment to become certified, think again. Thanks to digital learning tools, you can now complete everything from CPR renewal to your BLS certification online.
What can you expect from your BLS course?
You’ll start by reviewing the techniques and best practices of CPR and cover the most up-to-date procedures for identifying and responding to a variety of cardiopulmonary emergencies. Throughout the course you’ll learn:
- Basic CPR for adults, children, and infants
- Bag-valve mask device usage, as well as pocket face mask usage to administer breaths
- Effective CPR techniques for individuals as well as rescue teams
- Appropriate techniques for an automated external defibrillator (AED)
Given the amount of time invested in in-service training, healthcare providers will be happy to learn that the course takes an average of 4 hours to complete, and if you get your certification online, you can easily fit these hours in around your schedule.
Stay Sharp By Recertifying
It’s crucial for nurses and other healthcare professionals to stay current on life-saving best practices.
The good news is that you can refresh your skills and stay up to date on the latest research by completing BLS recertification and CPR renewal online.
Kathy Quan, RN BSN PHN, says, “The field of medicine and healthcare is constantly evolving and improving through advancements in technology and knowledge. … Techniques change and understanding the need to know about the changes as well as the reasoning behind the change can make a huge difference in how you practice and the outcomes for your patient.”
A recertification course is designed for nurses whose BLS provider card is close to expiring or has been expired for less than 60 days. The course focuses on any of the information that has changed since your last certification. It will also review the data and procedures related to the latest emergency cardiovascular care guidelines and standards.
Upon completion of a recertification course, you’ll receive 2 CEU credits.
Get Started With ACLS Certification Institute
ACLS Certification Institute specializes in online courses that give busy healthcare professionals a quality education with the convenience of learning from home at your own pace. We’ve helped over 100,000 healthcare providers sharpen their skills and improve patient outcomes with our critical, industry-leading certifications. Our courses don’t require long commutes or blocking out your entire day. Instead, you can access them anytime that works best for you. Our content is continually refreshed and accredited by the ADA, AMA, and ANCC in joint providership with the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) to ensure your education is both interesting and in-depth.
When you choose to complete your certification and recertification online with ACLS, you’ll have 24/7 access to all course materials and unlimited practice tests.
Get started with your BLS certification and BLS recertification today!
Sources:
- Latest AHA statistics on cardiac arrest survival reveal little progress. Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. Feb 7, 2019. https://www.sca-aware.org/sca-news/latest-aha-statistics-on-cardiac-arrest-survival-reveal-little-progress.
- Quan K. The importance of nursing continuing education — nursing CE. NursingCE.com. Oct 6, 2017. https://www.nursingce.com/blog/the-importance-of-continuing-education-for-nurses/.
Recommended Articles
A Nurse’s Night Shift Survival Guide
How can you make the most of your night shift as a nurse? Here are some simple tips and tricks to help you adjust to your new schedule and stay at your best.
Introduction to BLS Video
In this introductory video, we focus on the key points of performing basic life support to help improve patient outcomes.
ICU Nurses: Our Unsung Heroes and How They Succeed
Intense training and intense experiences motivate ICU nurses to continue their critical care nursing. Check out just how they succeed!
