UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND CLINICAL PROGRAMS
PROFESSIONAL NURSING ORGANIZATION
POLICY STANDARDS

ADDENDUM:           J.19
EFFECTIVE:         8/90
REVISION:           8/08
APPROVAL:        
8/08

SUBJECT: ACLS CLINICAL PROGRAMS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

SOURCE:

  1. A minimum of 8 ACLS Courses (4 two day Provider Courses and 4 one day refresher courses) will be provided by the Staff Education Department each year.
  2. Attendance priority will be given to RNs working in the Adult Critical Care areas and the Emergency Department and those Respiratory Therapists who act as members of the Code Blue Team or perform IV Moderate Sedation. Other qualified personnel will be registered to attend, as space is available.
  3. Prerequisites for ACLS training include successful completion of the Basic Dysrhythmia Identification and Treatment Course (or its equivalent) and department specific policies that outlines procedures for instituting ACLS Standards/Protocols.
  4. Initial training expires after two years.  A refresher course must be successfully completed prior to expiration in order to maintain ACLS Provider status.  If training has expired, personnel may challenge the re-certification exam (both written and practical); however, if either section is failed, there is no chance for remediation and the personnel must attend the two-day provider course.
  5. In addition to the one day ACLS refresher courses, re-certification can be completed via the HeartCode computer-based ACLS training program.  Computer-based certification shall be approved by the employee’s manager prior to scheduling.  NOTE: This option is available ONLY for re-certification.
  6. A minimum of four ACLS for the Experienced Provider courses will be offered yearly. Anyone qualified to take ACLS can take ACLS-EP. As with ACLS, certification expires after two years and must be renewed. this certification replaces ACLS.
  7. Attendance priority will be given to RNs who are required to have the courses as mandated by their department policies.
  8. Prerequisites are the same as for ACLS.