ACLS Course Material

ACLS Course Material

There are many benefits to becoming Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certified. ACLS skills are in high demand in the healthcare industry. An ACLS certification essentially expands on a BLS certification, which many medical professionals are required to have. In addition to being BLS certified, many other jobs in the healthcare field require ACLS. For example, all doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who work in emergency or critical care units are required to obtain an ACLS certification. You must register for and complete an ACLS certification course to become ACLS certified.

The first step is to determine if your employer requires you to take an in-person course, or if an online ACLS course is an option for you. If you are eligible, there are several things to consider when looking for the best online ACLS course, including:

• Accreditation / Compliance
• Price
• Continuing Education (CE) Credits
• Time Restrictions
• Customer Service
• Money-Back Guarantee
• Reviews / Testimonials

Online ACLS certification is becoming increasingly popular. Accessing ACLS course content online saves users time and money. Also, the ability to go through the ACLS course materials at their own pace allows students to have a deeper understanding of what they are learning. In addition, an online ACLS course is more convenient for students who are often working, going to school, or both. Traditional in-person courses typically require two or more days to complete, while an online ACLS course can take significantly less time from start to finish. At the same time, because there are no time restrictions, students can opt to take as much time as they need to understand the ACLS coursework if they are unfamiliar with the material or need more time to prepare.

As mentioned earlier, ACLS course content expands on BLS and digs deeper into topics such as CPR, AED use, the ability to recognize various heart rhythms, and more. All ACLS course material for online programs should be created by well-trained medical professionals who have years of experience with ACLS.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support Algorithm

Studying and memorizing ACLS algorithms is a non-negotiable part of the process needed to pass your ACLS course. ACLS algorithms help healthcare professionals working with adult patients understand how to implement ACLS protocols during emergencies. Each ACLS algorithm is specifically designed to help simplify the process of the management and treatment of patients experiencing a cardiovascular emergency. Cardiac emergencies are often related to arrhythmia. Therefore, a medical professional must be able to identify the arrhythmia and then treat it with the appropriate ACLS algorithm.

Therefore, to obtain your ACLS online certificate, it is vital to have a well-established understanding of the ACLS algorithms. Many students beginning their ACLS coursework wonder, how many ACLS algorithms are there? The Advanced Cardiac Life Support algorithm list includes:

• Adult BLS Algorithm
• Adult Cardiac Arrest Algorithm
• Immediate Post-Cardiac Arrest Care Algorithm
• Adult Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) Algorithm
• Adult Bradycardia Algorithm
• Adult ACLS Tachycardia Algorithm
• Opioid-Associated Life-Threatening Emergency Algorithm
• Adult Suspected Stroke Algorithm
• Cardiac Arrest in Pregnancy Algorithm
• EMS Acute Stroke Routing Algorithm

Studying and memorizing the ACLS algorithms can feel overwhelming. It is challenging to commit each one to memory. Tips for students studying the adult ACLS algorithm types include understanding what learning style works best for them. For example, one student may learn best using a mnemonic device, and others may learn best using visual, auditory, or kinesthetic methods.

ACLS certification requirements prepare healthcare professionals by equipping them to make quick, decisive, and accurate choices when faced with serious situations and scenarios involving cardiopulmonary diseases and emergencies. Learning the ACLS algorithms is an integral part of the process.

ACLS Test Questions And Answers

An essential part of the ACLS certification process is the ACLS written test. You can find ACLS practice exam questions and answers online to study. There are also practice ACLS questions available for use when preparing for the final exam. The ACLS exam will test your knowledge on many subjects, including ACLS practical application questions, as well as questions on ACLS drugs and algorithms.

One area of focus covered on the final exam is the ACLS medications. When studying using ACLS test questions and answers, the ACLS drugs covered will include:

• Adenosine
• Amiodarone
• Atropine
• Dopamine
• Epinephrine
• Lidocaine
• Magnesium
• Naloxone
• Procainamide

The best way to prepare for the ACLS algorithm test portion is to memorize each algorithm. Remembering this detailed information is a daunting task and must be approached by first understanding the best memorization method for your learning style. There is no one-size-fits-all method for memorizing the ACLS algorithms. Taking an ACLS practice test is another excellent way to prepare for the final exam.

eMedCert’s ACLS exam is comprised of multiple-choice and true/false questions. While this format may seem simple, the ACLS exam is not easy to pass the first time if you are not properly prepared. However, if you do not pass the first time, you can retake the test as many times as needed to achieve a passing score of 80%.

Some helpful hints for passing your online ACLS exam include:

• Reviewing ECG rhythms
• Memorizing the algorithms
• Memorizing medications and doses
• Taking practice exams

ACLS Practice Test

Our online ACLS certification test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, while our online ACLS Recertification test consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. An ACLS course pretest is one of the most accurate ways to measure your current knowledge on the subject. Your ACLS practice test results will help you know if you are ready to pass the actual test. The practice test can also help you discover parts of the ACLS course to review before attempting the final exam.

Those seeking ACLS certification for the first time and those seeking ACLS renewal will take a test with the same information. ACLS drugs and ACLS algorithms are major components of the final exam. Therefore, it is vital to know and understand this material. Memorizing the material is imperative for passing the exam and practicing the lifesaving skills learned throughout the course. Another critical topic to study is the basics of electrocardiogram (ECGs), in addition to familiarizing yourself with the H’s and T’s of ACLS. H’s and T’s are mnemonics used to help healthcare professionals remember the most common causes of cardiac arrest frequently seen in patients experiencing heart failure.

The H’s include:

• Hypovolemia
• Hypoxia
• Hydrogen Ions (Acidosis)
• Hyper/Hypokalemia (Potassium)
• Hypothermia

The T’s include:

• Tension Pneumothorax
• Tamponade (Pericardial Tamponade)
• Toxins
• Thrombosis (Pulmonary Embolus)
• Thrombosis (Acute Coronary Syndrome)

Taking an ACLS pretest will help you confidently move forward to your final exam. Pretests can reduce stress and anxiety associated with taking the challenging ACLS exam and reduce the time spent on the certification process by helping avoid multiple retakes.

How Many Continuing Education Credits For ACLS

Some professions require a designated amount of ongoing learning, referred to as continuing education (CE) or continuing medical education (CME) credits. The number of CE requirements will vary depending on several different factors, but most healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, paramedics, dentists, nursing home employers, and more are all required to meet a minimum number of credit hours. For healthcare professionals to remain licensed, knowing your CE requirements is imperative. Outside of maintaining employment, continued education empowers healthcare professionals to perform their jobs well and may offer career advancement opportunities. Continuing education helps medical professionals provide better patient care, experience professional and personal growth, and stay licensed and certified.

If you’re wondering, “Can I get ACLS CME credits, and if so, how many continuing education credits for ACLS will I receive for a certification or recertification course?” Yes, ACLS CE credits are available upon successfully completing one of our online ACLS courses. eMedCert and the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine jointly provide CE credits for ACLS, PALS, and BLS certification and recertification courses. In addition, ACLS continuing education credits for nurses, physicians, pharmacists, dentists, etc. may be applied differently. Therefore, it is crucial to understand which designation is most applicable to your profession.

eMedCert offers the following CME credits for completing an ACLS course online:

• Physician CE for ACLS Certification Course Credit from the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates a maximum of 8.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
• Physician CE for ACLS Recertification Course Credit from the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine designates a maximum of 4.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
• Continuing Education for Nurses ACLS Certification Course Credit includes a maximum of 8.0 contact hours.
• Continuing Education for Nurses ACLS Recertification Course Credit includes a maximum of 4.0 contact hours.
• Continuing Pharmacy Education ACLS Certification Course Credit from the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine designates a maximum of 8.0 contact hours of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
• Continuing Pharmacy Education ACLS recertification Course Credit from the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine designates a maximum of 4.0 contact hours of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
• Dental Continuing Education ACLS Certification course credit includes a maximum of 8.0 ADA credits.
• Dental Continuing Education ACLS recertification course credit includes a maximum of 4.0 ADA credits.