Michele and Joe in sim lab training classroom.
When should I start taking ACLS, BLS, and PALS?
Many schools may offer BLS as part of the curriculum. Usually, the nursing school requires BLS before starting the clinical portion of your studies. However, you will need BLS certification when applying for a nursing position for an internship or after graduating.
The advanced courses, such as ACLS and PALS, look good on your resume but are not usually required to get hired. If you are looking for an entry position in a critical care area, ACLS is generally required.
Can I sign-up for your classes?
All of my classes take place in Long Island, NY. You can sign-up for my classes if you are a licensed medical professional or a medical/nursing student and you work/live on Long Island. My schedule fills up 3 to 4 months in advance, so don’t wait until the last minute. I also send out reminder postcards to my students 3 to 4 months before their cards expire. If you aren’t receiving it, please email me your current address.
Will you come to our office to teach ACLS, BLS, and PALS?
Yes. We no longer travel to Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Westchester. If your office or hospital is in Nassau or Suffolk County and some parts of Queens, we can come to your office or hospital. Email or call me about what classes you need and how many will be in the class.
Call me to discuss dates, times, and prices.
See my brochure for additional information.
How long are my AHA certification cards valid?
The ACLS, BLS, and PALS certification cards are valid for 24 months. For example, if you take a class in February 2023, your card will expire on the last day of February 2025.
I lost my card. Can I get another one?
Yes. Only for classes completed after September 2017. All cards are now e-cards and are emailed directly to you. You can access your AHA online account anytime and print or download your e-cards. We do not have access to the older printed cards.
What if I fail the written exam?
You can return and repeat the class on another date, retake the entire course, and retake the exam – for no additional charge.
Joe and Michele with their “ACLS Q&A With Explanations” certification exam prep book, on display at the IBPA booth, at the Book Expo at the Javitz Center, in NYC.
I haven’t taken an ACLS class in many years and now my hospital requires certification. What should I study before taking your class?
For the ACLS class, I want you to study ECG/EKG. I want you to get the AHA textbook for ACLS or the ECC handbook and review it. The AHA provides an excellent website for students. There are also many good videos on YouTube that are very helpful. You can also email or telephone me with any other ACLS and ECG/EKG questions about something you don’t understand.
I have been out of nursing for several years, and I would like to take your ACLS and BLS classes to prepare myself to re-enter the workforce. I am afraid these classes will be too difficult for me to pass. Do you have any suggestions?
Yes. Get your hands on the ACLS textbook and the ECC handbook. Also, I provide plenty of help and guidance well before class and on the day of the course. Also, taking an introductory ECG/EKG interpretation class will help you understand and pass the ACLS class.
I, too, would like to become a nursing teacher or continuing education instructor. Any advice?
Yes. You should strive to become THE expert in your unit/office in your particular subject area. Learn to teach by teaching the other nurses in your unit/hospital/office. Teaching is just like anything else; you must practice it by doing it. Develop a subject outline and study guide for the subject you want to teach.
Developing this outline and guide will force you to learn and understand your subject’s intricacies. The outline and guide will also impress the other nurses and help with your credibility. Contact-hour programs offer applications at national and state-specific websites such as NYSNA and AACN. There are fees involved.
Where do I find the ECC updated guidelines?
New guidelines come out every five years. If you are on my email list, I will email you the updates as they come out. Any medical provider can email me, and I will add you to my email list.
Do I need to complete BLS before taking ACLS or PALS?
AHA does not require BLS certification before taking ACLS or PALS. Usually, the hospital or facility where you work will require BLS as a minimum requirement to keep your job. An EKG class would certainly facilitate success in an ACLS program.
Do all physicians need to complete ACLS, BLS, or PALS?
Any practitioner participating in moderate sedation is required to be certified in ACLS and BLS. For practitioners dealing with children, PALS is required.
Testimonial
I have taken Michele’s classes in the past and returned to take her ACLS class again. Her class was informative, timely, and very pertinent.”
Barbara Kusky, RN, Bay Pines VA Hospital, Bay Pines, FL
