WKU News

Dr. Patricia Blewett, Donna Brosche, RN and Melissa Johnson, RN recently completed Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS training.

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

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 receive an ACLS course completion card, valid for two years.

Click here to learn more about Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).