ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT (ACLS)

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The Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider Course is designed for healthcare professionals who utilize life-saving techniques in cardiovascular emergencies. Students will enhance their skills in the recognition and intervention of cardiopulmonary arrest, post-cardiac arrest, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndrome. This course carries a 2 year certification through the AHA.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Define systems of care
• Apply the Basic Life Support (BLS) Assessment, Primary Assessment. and Secondary Assessment sequences for systematic evaluation of adult patients
• Discuss how using rapid response teams (RRTs) or medical emergency teams (METs) may improve patient outcomes
• Discuss early recognition and management of ACS, including appropriate disposition
• Discuss early recognition and management of stroke, including appropriate disposition 
• Recognize bradycardia and tachycardia that may result in cardiac arrest or complicate resuscitation outcome
• Model effective communication as a member or leader of a high-performance team
• Recognize the impact of team dynamics on overall team performance
• Recognize respiratory arrest
• Perform prompt, high quality BLS, which includes prioritizing early chest compressions and integrating early automated external defibrillator (AED) use
• Perform early management of cardiac arrest until termination of resuscitation or transfer of care, including immediate post-cardiac arrest care
• Evaluate resuscitative efforts during cardiac arrest by continually assessing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality, monitoring the patient's physiologic response, and delivering real-time feedback to the team.

MEGACODE EVALUATION

In the Megacode evaluation station at the end of class, you will participate in a simulated cardiac arrest scenario to evaluate your

• Integration of core material and skills
• Application of algorithms
• Interpretation of arrhythmias
• Use of appropriate ACLS drug therapy
• Performance as an effective leader and member of a high-performance team
• Achieving objective measures such as chest compressions fraction (CCF)

COURSE PREREQUISITES AND PREPARATION

BEFORE CLASS, read the ACLS Provider Manual, complete the mandatory pre-course work in ACLS Student Resources (assessed via eLearning.heart.org), identify any gaps in your knowledge, and remediate those gaps by studying the applicable content in the ACLS Provider Manual or other supplementary resources, including the ACLS Student Resource. The ACLS Pre-course Self-Assessment is an online tool that evaluates a student’s knowledge in 3 sections: rhythm recognition, pharmacology, and practical application. You MUST pass the Pre-course Self-Assessment with a minimum score of 70%. You may retake the self-assessment as often as needed to pass. PRINT YOU CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND SCORE REPORT AND BRING THEM WITH YOU TO THE COURSE.

ACLS Pre-Course Self-Assessment (ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment (heart.org) 

You will need the following knowledge and skills to successfully complete the course:

• BLS skills
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythm interpretation for core ACLS rhythms
• Knowledge of airway management and adjuncts
• Basic ACLS drug and pharmacology knowledge
• Practical application of ACLS rhythms and drugs
• Effective high-performance team skills

BLS SKILLS STATION

Strong BLS skills form the foundation of ACLS, so you must pass the high-quality BLS testing station to complete this course. Make sure that you are proficient in BLS skills before attending the class. (Bring a copy of you current BLS PROVIDER certification with you on the day of class, If you need a current BLS Certification, courses are offered BUNDLED for an additional fee.)

ECG RHYTHM INTERPRETATION FOR CORE ACLS RHYTHMS

The basic cardiac arrest and periarrest algorithms require students to recognize these ECG rhythms:

• Sinus rhythm
• Atrial fibrillation and flutter
• Sinus bradycardia
• Sinus tachycardia
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
• Atrioventricular blocks (AV BLOCK)
• Asystole
• Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
• Ventricular tachycardias (VTs)
• Ventricular fibrillation (VF)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE FOR ECG PRACTICE :  The Six Second ECG Simulator generates 27 of the most common cardiac rhythms (lead II) for you to explore and identify.  https://www.skillstat.com/tools/ecg-simulator/

The ACLS Pre-course Self-Assessment contains an ECG rhythm identification section. Use your self-assessment score and feedback to help you identify your areas of strength and weakness before attending the class. You must be able to identify and interpret rhythms during course practice sessions and the final Megacode evaluation station.

BASIC ACLS DRUG AND PHARMACOLOGY KNOWLEGDE

You know the drugs and doses used in the ACLS algorithms. You will also need to know when to use which drug based on the clinical situation.

***Medication include but not limited to:

• ADENOSINE
• AMIODARONE
• ATROPINE SULFATE
• DOPAMINE
• EPINEPHRINE
• LIDOCAINE
• MAGNESIUM SULFATE

COURSE MATERIALS

ACLS Provider Manual - The ACLS Provider Manual contains the basic information you will need to participate in the course, including the systematic approach to a cardiopulmonary emergency, information about effective high-performance team communication, and the ACLS cases and algorithms. Review this manual before attending the class, and bring it with you to the class. Students using the eBook version should download the manual to their device's eReader app and bring it with them, in case there is no internet connection.

ACLS STUDENT RESOURCES

The ACLS student resources (accessed via eLearning.heart.org) contain mandatory pre-course preparation and supplementary materials.

• Pre-course Self-Assessment (passing score 70% or greater)
• Pre-course work (complete interactive video lessons)

Use the following resources to supplement basic concepts in the ACLS Course. Some information is supplementary; other areas provide additional information for interested students or advanced providers.

• Pre-course Preparation Checklist (used to ensure that students are ready to attend class.)
• ACLS Supplementary Materials 

-     Basic Airway Management

-     Advanced Airway Management

-     ACLS Core Rhythms

-     Defibrillation

-     Access for Medications

-     Acute Coronary Syndromes

-     Human, Ethical, and Legal Dimensions of ECC and ACLS

• Optional Videos

-     Intraosseous Access

-     Coping With Death

COURSE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

To successfully complete the ACLS Provider Course and obtain your course completion card, you must:

• Pass the Adult High-Quality BLS Skills test
• Pass the Airway Management Skill Test, including oropharyngeal airway/nasopharyngeal airway insertion
• Demonstrate competency in learning station skills
• Pass the High-Performance Teams: Megacode Test
• Pass the open-resource exam with a minimum score of 84%