Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Course

ACLS is an advanced, instructor-led classroom course that highlights the importance of team dynamics and communication, systems of care, and immediate post-cardiac-arrest care.

It also covers airway management and related pharmacology. In this course, skills are taught in large, group sessions and small, group learning and testing stations where case-based scenarios are presented.

Who should take this class?

ACLS is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies.

This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units.

The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.

Course Content

• Key changes in advanced cardiovascular life support, reflecting the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
• Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device and use of an (AED)
• Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
• Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia
• Airway management
• Related pharmacology
• Management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stroke
• Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team

• Effective Resuscitation Team Dynamics

Features

• Course uses learning stations for practice of essential skills simulated clinical scenarios that encourage Active participation
• Hands-on class format reinforces skills proficiency
• Classroom-based works well for learners who prefer group interaction and instructor feedback while learning skills

Course Completion Card

Upon successful course completion, including demonstration of skills competency in all learning stations and passing the CPR and AED skills test, bag-mask ventilation skills test, a Megacode test and a written test, students will receive an ACLS provider card, valid for (2) two years.