Saturday, May 30, 2015

PALS Certification And Procedure Information

By Ericka Marsh


PALS stands for the procedures known as Pediatric Advanced Life Support, which is useful to all persons who work with children of all ages in an emergency situation. Emergency medical techs, any doctor or nurse who works in hospitals or any other health care worker should be knowledgeable about dealing with kids in these situations. Getting a PALS certification can help to keep these workers in the loop on the successful means and procedures available to them in emergency instances.

The most common form of this learning is classroom based; however there are other more convenient means of obtaining the information. For those that are pressed for time but still want the information contained in the classroom, an online version is available. The American Heart Association began this training as a means to reiterate the importance of assessment, support and using preset algorithms to create the best care.

You should expect to be taught specific things in the course like CPR and AED for kids for a single or two person situation, vascular access in kids, electric therapies for cardiac issues and the different changes that have been seen in children's advanced life support. While in a classroom, emergency situations are simulated so that a student can take advantage of the hands on experience of learning while applying the taught concepts. The online experience allows for reading the information and then answering questions on a test that does not include a skills assessment.

Each option outlined above offers the taker the option of certifying for the first time, or getting recertified and getting continuing education credits. These credits are a requirement in most all states for health care workers to keep their credentials up to date. The AHA or American Heart Association pairs with many training centers and offers their information for these courses, so any provider that is used should be certified to offer this credential.

Many are not able to show this credential, so the students therefore aren't able to get credit for completing the course. So it is in the best interest of a student to get in contact with CECBEMS or AHA to make sure they can get credit. Even if a course is completed, without the correct credentialing, no credits will be given.

If you are wanting to update your credentials using the class for con ed, you should know what you will need to pass. A student could pass if they take part in and actually complete a one and two person kid and infant AED/CPR and act as a team lead during a cardiac or respiratory shock simulation after taking a written exam. If each portion is passed, a score is assessed and the certificate or card is given in recognition.

Right now there are courses that can be taken to update or to get your certificate for the first time. The first time course is made to give in depth information to a student, where the course to update is basic key points that have already been covered in the past. The con ed credit for these for all states is at fourteen and a half credits for the course through CECBEMS guidelines. This accrediting institute for con ed crediting approves this when a course with AHA standards has been completed.

For more information on these procedures and the education contained in those courses, it is best to contact your local AHA branch. This will give you the opportunity to ask any questions that may arise surrounding the materials, requirements and educational credits you may be able to use. The provider you choose may or may not be listed with the AHA locally, so it is best to follow up with CECBEMS.




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