PALS Certification
Description
Our Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) program will teach you to recognize and treat cardiorespiratory arrest in children. Using a combination of videos and training from a Heart and Stroke Foundation instructor, you will learn a systematic approach to PALS.
Why Take Our Course?
We use the latest resuscitation science to help you deliver enhanced patient care. To improve the learning experience, you will view simulations, 3D animations, and case studies. You will also need to use your problem-solving skills to resolve a number of paediatric emergency scenarios. Finally, you will participate in class discussions to demonstrate your understanding of the material.
Who Should Take PALS Training?
All healthcare providers in Canada who work with paediatric patients managing respiratory or cardiovascular emergencies, including cardiopulmonary arrest, should enroll. Some job positions in Canada even require PALS. We are able to tailor the program to meet your needs, which may involve adapting some material to incorporate local protocols.
The prerequisites to enroll include a current BLS completion card and a pre-course self-assessment, which you will find on the student website (the link is listed in the provider manual). You should also be able to perform BLS skills to a high standard, identify various rhythms and rhythm disturbances on a monitor or paper tracing, and combine ECG rhythm recognition with pharmacology.
What You Will Learn
PALS covers five main concepts, all of which are based on scientific evidence. The first is identifying problems that put a child at risk of cardiac arrest and the treatment of these problems. The second is applying a systematic approach to assessment. The third is the use of the evaluate, identify, intervene protocol. The fourth is the use of the PALS algorithm and flowcharts. Finally, you have demonstration of effective teamwork.
During the course, you will learn a number of skills and will have the opportunity to put them into practice. By the end of the training, you should be able to do the following:
- Recognize cardiopulmonary arrest and carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within 10 seconds, following the Heart and Stroke Foundation procedure
- Offer foundation basic life support (BLS)
- Determine whether a patient needs immediate intervention
- Demonstrate your ability to work as part of a team
- Distinguish between respiratory distress and respiratory failure to provide early intervention
- Differentiate between compensated and decompensated (or hypotensive) shock to carry out the correct early interventions
- Determine whether a patient with arrhythmia is stable or unstable and list the clinical characteristics of instability
- Offer post-cardiac arrest management
For each of these skills, you will take the role of a team member and team leader with the five other trainees in your group.
Successful completion will earn you a certification card, valid for two years. To pass, you will need to attend all 13 hours and 40 minutes of the training. You will also need to demonstrate understanding and proficiency in the above skills.
Required Student Materials
- Only Heart and Stroke branded PALS materials are accepted for use in courses where a Heart and Stroke Foundation PALS completion card is issued.
- Provider Manual- print or eBook (RE6100E or RE6100ED)
- 2015 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Providers –print (RE0120E) or eBook(RE0120ED)
- Provider Bundle (RE6108E) Includes Provider Manual-RE6100 & ECC Handbook -RE0120E
- Pocket Reference Card – print (RE6103E) or digital (RE6103ED) – Included in Provider manual and sold separately.
Optional General Materials
- Poster Set(RE6105E)
- Emergency Crash Cart Card Set(RE6106E)
Renewing Your PALS Certification
To renew your certification, you can take the PALS Renewal course, which lasts just 7 hours and 40 minutes. You will need to attend this course before your PALS card expires, must complete the mandatory Pre-course Self-Assessment and be proficient in the following:
- Performing high-quality BLS skills through the use of the 2015 Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC
- Identify—on a monitor and/or paper tracing—the following rhythms and rhythm disturbances:
- Normal sinus rhythm
- Sinus bradycardia
- Sinus tachycardia
- Supraventricular tachycardia
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Asystole
- Ventricular fibrillation.
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the essential drugs used in the management of:
- Cardiac arrest
- Bradycardia
- Tachycardia
- Be able to combine ECG rhythm recognition and pharmacology
For more information, please contact us.