Study these ACLS Megacode scenarios and solidify your knowledge of essential life-saving skills. Take your test with confidence. Read the complete guide here.
Every year, roughly 395,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital. Of these incidences, less than 10 percent will survive. However, that survival rate almost triples for those who suffer a cardiac arrest episode in a hospital or medical setting. Why is this? When someone is undergoing cardiac arrest, every single second counts. ACLS training, even for those not in the medical field, is the most effective way to potentially save a life.
ACLS, or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, is one of the most essential and fundamental life-saving methods that anyone can learn. While a critical skill for nurses, doctors, paramedics, and various other professions, everyone can be trained in ACLS.
Since so many cardiac arrests occur in the home, often far from any medical support, you never know when you’ll be needed to make a difference. As previously mentioned, time is everything. For each minute that passes without CPR or medical support, a cardiac arrest victim’s survival rate decreases by 7 to 10 percent. By training in ACLS, and other life-saving procedures, such as PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), you could receive the knowledge and skills to save a life.
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What Is ACLS Training?
There are various online ACLS classes available, providing professional, certified training without the need to ever leave your home. As technology advances, these courses have become more effective and sophisticated—not to mention, convenient. If you already work full or part-time, online ACLS training might be perfect for you. Simply sign up, complete your course, and print off your certification card.
But what does ACLS training look like? There are several essential aspects, but a critical one is the use of megacode training. But what is a megacode? And how does it relate to ACLS education? Here at EMedCert, we know that the first step should always be education—that’s why we’re taking a look into megacode training and discussing the importance of ACLS megacodes.
What is a Megacode?
What exactly is a megacode and how is it unique from other types of training? A megacodes is a multiple-choice quiz that time the user to respond to specific medical scenarios. Primarily, the questions present a scenario and then ask the user to choose what method, step, or practice would be most suitable.
Below is an example of the type of question you might see on a megacode test:
A 12-year-old patient collapses at a sporting event. Bystanders performed CRP on the scene. The patient arrives in the emergency department with initial vitals demonstrating T: 35, P: thread, BP: 60/30, O2: 95 percent. What are the initial steps in management?
A. Cardiovert
B. ABC’s
C. Adenosine
D. Consult cardiology
To correctly answer, you will need to select the most accurate multiple choice option for the specific scenario. It’s important to remember that each question is timed, so studying and preparing before taking the ACLS megacode is essential. Luckily, there are many megacode simulators available online to help you practice before taking the actual test. Just like in the case of a real medical emergency, preparedness is key for taking the ACLS megacode.
What are ACLS Megacode Scenarios?
While ACLS is designed to respond to a cardiac arrest episode, there are more specific scenarios that influence how you would act and what type of medical assistance to provide. There are seven primary ACLS megacode scenarios. Here, we briefly discuss each scenario and look into what makes it unique.
- V-Tach: Short for Ventricular Tachycardia, V-Tach is a disorder of the heart’s rhythm due to abnormal electrical signals in the heart’s ventricles.
- Bradycardia: A slower than standard heart rate. The average human heart beats around 60 to 100 beats a minute; Bradycardia occurs when your heart rate falls below 60.
- V-Fib: Ventricular fibrillation is a serious disturbance of the heart rate. With V-Fib, the heart’s lower chambers fibrillate, rather than beating, which prevents the heart from regularly pumping blood.
- SVT: Supraventricular Tachycardia is an irregularly fast heartbeat, over 100 beats per minute. This is also a general term and includes other heart irregularities, such as heart arrhythmia.
- Stroke: This occurs when blood cannot effectively reach the brain, which immediately starves the brain of oxygen and nutrients.
- PEA: Known as Pulseless Electrical Activity, this scenario occurs when a victim shows no signs of a pulse when their electrical activity is still functioning correctly. PEA occurs in over half of cardiac arrest victims.
- STEMI: ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction is the deadliest type of heart attack and occurs when there is a partial or total blockage in a coronary artery. This cuts off oxygen and blood from reaching the brain.
What are the Benefits of ACLS Megacodes?
Even within a hospital, the survival rate for cardiac arrest victims is surprisingly low. In the United States, only about 20 percent of patients survive cardiac arrest—and that’s when they’re surrounded by medical staff and equipment. Even with highly trained professionals, the possibility of error in performing ACLS or other necessary life-saving procedures is always present.
To minimize the risk of error, medical professionals must consistently train and practice their procedures. Practice makes perfect and that’s their goal. The most effective techniques also change as medical science and technology reveal more of how the body works. In the early days of CPR, the trusted method was to blow hot air and smoke into the victim’s mouth. Clearly, we’ve come a long way.
To ensure the highest possible survival rate, nurses and doctors must continuously train and retrain. Megacodes help by putting the user in a specific medical situation and checking that they understand the best course of action. Megacodes are accessible, thorough, and effective in ensuring quality care and training.
Additional ACLS Study Material:
Conclusion
ACLS megacodes are one of the most effective and thorough methods for learning the specific scenarios that are common during a cardiac arrest episode. As a medical professional, it’s critical to stay current with advances in medical technology and procedures. Megacodes are an ideal, 100 percent online option for staying on top of your training and education.
Even if you aren’t in the medical field, ACLS megacodes can help supplement your knowledge and improve your techniques. In the case of a cardiac arrest, every second counts. With professional ACLS training and ACLS megacodes, you can respond with confidence and potentially save a life.
To learn more about our ACLS certification courses, recertification, and even the ins and outs of megacodes, visit eMedCert.com today, or reach out to us directly.