Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider Manual

Description

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)2015 Guidelines
ACLS builds on the foundation of lifesaving basic life support (BLS) skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR. This advanced course highlights the importance of high-performance team dynamics and communication, systems of care, recognition and intervention of cardiopulmonary arrest, immediate post-cardiac arrest, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes (ACS).
After successfully completing the ACLS course, students should be able to:
apply the BLS, Primary, and Secondary Assessments sequence for a systematic evaluation of adult patients
perform prompt, high-quality BLS, including prioritizing early chest compressions and integrating early automated external defibrillator (AED) use
recognize and perform early management of respiratory arrest
discuss early recognition and management of ACS and stroke, including appropriate disposition
recognize and perform early management of bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias that may result in cardiac arrest or complicate resuscitation outcome
recognize and perform early management of cardiac arrest until termination of resuscitation or transfer of care, including immediate post-cardiac-arrest care
model effective communication as a member or leader of a high-performance team
evaluate resuscitative efforts during a cardiac arrest through continuous assessment of CPR quality, monitoring the patient's physiologic response, and delivering real-time feedback to the team
recognize the impact of team dynamics on overall team performance
discuss how the use of a rapid response team or medical emergency team may improve patient outcomes
define systems of care.
ACLS training is intended for healthcare professionals
who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies, including:
physicians
nurses
paramedics
staff in intensive care units and emergency or critical care departments
other professionals who need an ACLS course completion card for job or other requirements
Before taking the ACLS course, students must pass the online ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment with a score of 70% or higher. This test is part of the ACLS student Web site (access granted with purchase of the ACLS Provider Manual). For successful course completion, students must:
demonstrate skills competency in all learning stations
pass the high-quality BLS skills test
pass the bag-mask ventilation with OPA/NPA insertion skills test
pass the the Megacode test
pass the ACLS exam with a score of 84% or higher.