Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - BLENDED

Course by Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

Course Description: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Blended (ACLS Blended) Course by Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada combines two learning formats: self-paced, online learning and 10 hours in classroom learning format. The curriculum is divided into parts, allowing you to learn and acquire ACLS skills at your own pace in accordance with your preferred learning style. After finishing the online part of the course, participants can take the instructor-led, in-classroom component when they are ready. 

This course will help develop clinical skills through simulated situations that mirror real-life cardiac-related emergencies where healthcare workers must apply their learning to save lives. These simulations will involve high-quality CPR, high-performance team dynamics and communication, systems of care, recognition and intervention of cardiopulmonary arrest, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes. Participants will be able to reinforce concepts, undertake skills practice, receive coaching and correction, and refine their abilities before final testing.

Intended Audience: The Heart and Stroke Foundation's ACLS Course is a comprehensive program designed to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage cardiovascular emergencies. It is specifically tailored to individuals who are involved in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies, including, but not limited to, physicians, nurses, paramedics, and emergency response personnel.

This program is particularly relevant for those working in emergency medicine, intensive care, and critical care units. Individuals who require an ACLS course completion card for job requirements or other purposes can also benefit from this course. With its practical, hands-on approach and up-to-date techniques, the Heart and Stroke Foundation's ACLS Course is an essential tool for anyone who wants to enhance their ability to respond to life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies.

Course Prerequisites:

• Current Heart & Stroke Foundation BLS Provider certification. If your certificate has already expired or you have a BLS Certificate from another training agency (Example: St John Ambulance, Red Cross, etc), you must take the full BLS Provider course by Heat & Stroke or you can take the BLS Provider Renewal Prerequisite Challenge and then attend the BLS Renewal course by Heart & Stroke. 
  
• Completed ACLS Online portion
• ACLS pre-course self-assessment certificate (passing score = 70%). The link for the pre-course self-assessment will be sent to you after the course registration.

The following competencies are expected of students entering a ACLS Provider course:

• Performing high-quality BLS skills using the most recent Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC
• Reading and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs)- Be able to identify—on a monitor and paper tracing—rhythms associated with bradycardia, tachycardia with adequate perfusion, tachycardia with poor perfusion, and pulseless arrest. These rhythms include but are not limited to:
  • Normal sinus rhythm
  • Sinus bradycardia
  • Type I second-degree AV block
  • Type II second-degree AV block
  • Third-degree AV block
  • Sinus tachycardia
  • Supraventricular tachycardias
  • Ventricular tachycardia
  • Asystole
  • Ventricular fibrillation
  • Organized rhythm without a pulse
• Understanding ACLS drugs- have a basic understanding of the essential drugs used in:
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Bradycardia
  • Tachycardia with adequate perfusion
  • Tachycardia with poor perfusion
  • Immediate post–cardiac arrest care
• A current Heart and Stroke Foundation BLS course completion card
• Complete a mandatory Pre-course Self-Assessment.

ACLS Blended Course Overview

Course content:

The ACLS Provider Course emphasizes few major concepts:

• The crucial importance of high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to patient survival
• The integration of effective basic life support (BLS) with ACLS interventions
• The importance of effective team interaction and communication during resuscitation. The course is designed to give students the opportunity to practice and demonstrate proficiency in the following skills used in resuscitation:
• Systematic approach
• High-quality BLS
• Airway management
• Rhythm recognition
• Defibrillation
• Intravenous (IV)/intraosseous (IO) access (information only)
• Use of medications
• Cardioversion
• Transcutaneous pacing
• Team dynamics

Students must pass a written exam and skills test in order to qualify for an ACLS Provider Course Completion Card.

Course Duration 

10 hours (1 day)

Certification

2-years certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

Course Materials

*The online portion of the course is included in the course price*

Books and materials are required on our courses by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. It is the participant’s responsibility to get the materials and it is not included in the course price.

You can buy ACLS course textbooks and materials directly from First Aid Plus

OR

it can be purchased from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, please click on the link below, sign in, and then click the button that says SHOP

https://cpr.heartandstroke.ca/s/?language=en_US

Please ensure you order the following required student materials:

• 2020 Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider Manual – (Heart and Stroke Product Code: RE5610)
• 2020 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Provider – (Heart and Stroke Product Code: RE0130)
• ACLS Reference Cards – (Heart and Stroke Product Code: RE5670) It is already included in the Provider Manual but also sold separately if an extra one is needed.

ACLS Course Online Materials

The online part of the course is included in the cost and it will be sent to email that was provided upon registration.

It is advised that you read the textbook, in its entirety, prior to the course.

If you have any questions or want to know more about our courses, feel free to contact us. Our training programs offer a diverse range of topics, from basic life support to advanced resuscitation techniques. Our organization is dedicated to delivering top-notch education to healthcare professionals and individuals who aspire to improve their life-saving skills. We prioritize quality education that helps providers deliver better care and save more lives. So, get in touch with us today to explore how our courses can benefit you or your team.