#pals certification

You may think of children’s bodies as a smaller version of adult ones, with the same number of arms, legs, ribs, and lungs, in most cases. But despite appearances from the outside, a child’s body is unique. Children's heads are relatively large, airways easily compromised, and chests poorly protected compared to adults. And to care for the child during an emergency is more than adjusting the dosage. 

Here’s why you should enroll in the PALS course: To learn the age-specific protocols to manage life-threatening pediatric emergencies. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports that over 30 million emergency department visits are made by children less than 18 years old in the United States every year. So what will you learn in the PALS course, and how can you get certified? Keep on scrolling to find out!

What Is the PALS Course?

Before diving into specifics, you should understand what this training actually involves. The PALS course prepares healthcare professionals to deliver advanced emergency care to infants and children. You'll learn systematic approaches to assess critically ill pediatric patients quickly and accurately. This certification targets nurses, physicians, paramedics, and respiratory therapists who encounter pediatric emergencies. You need this credential if you work in settings where children receive medical care. 

Core Topics Covered in the PALS Course

The PALS course curriculum addresses comprehensive pediatric emergency scenarios you'll encounter professionally. You'll gain practical knowledge in the following topics,

Systematic Assessment Approach

You'll learn the evaluate-identify-intervene sequence for pediatric patients in distress. This structured method helps you prioritize interventions during critical situations effectively. The assessment includes identifying respiratory distress, respiratory failure, and shock states. You'll practice recognizing subtle clinical signs that indicate deteriorating patient conditions.

Respiratory Management

Managing airway and breathing emergencies forms a cornerstone of your training. You'll learn proper airway positioning techniques for infants and children. The course covers bag-mask ventilation skills essential for providing adequate oxygenation. You'll understand when to escalate respiratory support based on patient responses.

Cardiac Arrest Management

You'll master pediatric CPR techniques with correct compression-to-ventilation ratios for different ages. The training includes proper use of automated external defibrillators on children. You'll learn medication administration protocols during cardiac arrest scenarios effectively. Team dynamics and closed-loop communication become second nature through simulated practice.

Recognition of Shock

Identifying compensated and decompensated shock states improves your clinical decision-making significantly. You'll understand different shock types including hypovolemic, distributive, and cardiogenic varieties. The course teaches fluid resuscitation strategies appropriate for pediatric patients specifically. You'll learn to monitor treatment effectiveness through continuous reassessment techniques.

Rhythm Disturbances

You'll develop skills interpreting pediatric ECG rhythms and recognizing life-threatening arrhythmias. The training covers bradycardia and tachycardia management algorithms systematically. You'll practice appropriate interventions including cardioversion and defibrillation when indicated. Medication dosing for rhythm disturbances becomes clearer through case-based learning.

Can PALS Course Be Completed Online?

Yes, the American Heart Association offers two training methods for PALS certification: blended learning and traditional classroom training. Both methods result in the same official AHA PALS Course Completion Card. Here’s brief difference between them,

Aspect

Traditional Classroom

Online Classroom

Duration

10-12 hours over 2 days 

3-6 hours online + 30-60 minutes in-person skills 

Schedule Flexibility

Fixed class times

Self-paced online portion

Learning Style

Instructor-led group sessions

Self-directed with eSimulation technology 

Skills Practice

Integrated throughout course

Separate hands-on session required

Completion Timeline

Must finish within 2 days

60 days to complete skills session after online portion

Certification Card

Same AHA PALS Course Completion Card 

Same AHA PALS Course Completion Card 

Ideal For

Team-based learners

Healthcare professionals with busy schedules

Cost

Typically lower

May vary by training center

How to Prepare for the PALS Exam?

The PALS course involves written and practical assessments in the final exam. Here are some tips to help you perform confidently.

 Master the Algorithms

PALS algorithms provide systematic treatment pathways. You should memorize cardiac arrest, bradycardia, and tachycardia algorithms. 

 Practice With Scenarios

Simulation scenarios mirror real-world emergencies you'll face. Request additional practice time if available and work through different case presentations with peers.

 Review Medication Calculations

Medication math causes anxiety for many candidates. Practice dosing calculations daily before your exam. You can also use online calculators to verify your answers. 

 Understand Pediatric Vital Signs

Normal vital signs vary significantly across age groups. Create reference cards for different pediatric ages to easily recognize abnormal values that indicate deterioration. 

 Focus on High-Yield Content

Certain topics appear frequently on examinations. Prioritize respiratory emergencies and shock management. Review cardiac arrest algorithms thoroughly. 

Save Young Lives with Confidence

The ACLS (advanced cardiovascular life support) bradycardia algorithm is a protocol that healthcare providers use to manage patients with bradycardia. Bradycardia is a condition that slows down the heart rate to less than 50-60 beats per minute. Signs and symptoms of bradycardia include altered mental state, fatigue, hypotension, sweating, ischemic chest discomfort, acute heart failure, or signs of shock. In most cases, an individual with bradycardia does not get sufficient oxygenated blood to various parts of their body. Failure to treat bradycardia can lead to severe conditions such as syncope. However, it is worth noting that an individual may also experience a slow resting heart rate due to age or physical fitness activities. This blog will help you understand the ACLS bradycardia algorithm, its key steps and how to identify the underlying cause.

Causes of bradycardia

Identifying the main causes of bradycardia is important for effective treatment and management of the condition. Some of the factors that may cause bradycardia include:

Hypothyroidism

Inflammatory diseases

Imbalance of electrolytes

Myocarditis

Obstructive sleep apnea

Hypertension

Tissue damage due to heart attack, heart disease, or aging

Congenital heart defect

Essential steps in the ACLS bradycardia protocol

Understanding and effectively applying the ACLS bradycardia algorithm can be life-saving in critical situations. Every step is designed systemically to address and manage the symptoms of bradycardia and stabilize the patient’s condition promptly. Here are the steps of ACLS bradycardia:

Airway opening:

Ensure the patient’s airway is open. If not, you must assist the patient with breathing. You can do so while using the following steps:

Airway management: Begin by conducting an assessment of the patient’s airway. This will inform you if it is clear or not. Obstruction of the airway leads to inadequate oxygenation and may further exacerbate bradycardia. To assist the patient in maintaining the airway, you can apply techniques like jaw-thrust or head-tilt. If need be, you can also consider advanced airway management.

Assisting breathing: Once you establish that the patient is not breathing well, assist their breathing with ventilation using a bag-mask device or provide supplemental oxygen. Proper ventilation is crucial to improve the patient’s oxygen supply and lower the risk of further complications.

Administer oxygen if hypoxemic:

To measure the patient’s level of oxygen saturation in the body, use a pulse oximeter. Low oxygen levels, usually below 94%, mean that you must administer supplemental oxygen. You can deliver this either through a non-rebreather mask or a cannula. The method you will use depends on how severe the hypoxemia is. Moreover, it is not enough to administer oxygen. You need to conduct a continuous assessment of the patient’s oxygen saturation. This will guide you on how to adjust the flow rate of oxygen accordingly to ensure sufficient oxygenation.

Attach cardiac monitor for rhythm identification, monitor blood pressure and oximetry:

Use a cardiac monitor to evaluate the patient’s heart rhythm. This will guide you to know if the bradycardia is caused by a conduction problem or if it’s due to a particular type of arrhythmia. Secondly, you must measure the patient’s blood pressure to assess for hypotension. This is a critical indicator as it shows the patient’s hemodynamic stability. With bradycardia, a patient can experience lowered blood pressure and reduced cardiac output. Lastly, you must keep a record of the oxygen saturation levels. This information is necessary to ensure that the patient has adequate oxygen being delivered to body tissues.

Establish IV access:

To facilitate the administration of fluids, medicine, and other forms of treatment, you must obtain intravenous (IV) access. Consider using a large-bore catheter if it's available. This allows you to infuse medication or fluids more rapidly if necessary. Get ready to administer medications like atropine or other drugs as indicated in the bradycardia algorithm. If the patient is in shock or hypovolemic, provide them some fluids.

Obtain a 12-lead ECG:

To obtain a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), place electrodes on the patient. This will provide a comprehensive view of the patient’s heart’s electrical activity, allowing you to diagnose the type of bradycardia. You will also be able to identify other underlying ischemic or structural changes in the patient’s heart. Additionally, conduct an analysis of the ECG to determine which type of bradycardia the patient has. It might either be an atrioventricular block or sinus bradycardia. This information will guide you on the treatment decisions to take.

Evaluate for symptoms:

Evaluate the patient’s symptoms to determine if bradycardia is causing major symptoms. Look out for symptoms such as signs of shock, altered mental status, ischemic chest discomfort, or acute heart failure. If any of these symptoms is present, proceed with the algorithm. Follow the protocol to administer the necessary interventions and appropriate treatments. Interventions taken should be guided by how severe the underlying causes and symptoms are. You can choose to provide pacing, pharmacological treatment, or any other measure as indicated in the algorithm.

Pharmacological treatment:

After evaluating the symptoms, you can go on and administer the pharmacological treatment. Consider the following options as guided by the protocol:

Atropine: This is the first-line drug administered for symptomatic bradycardia. Administer 1 mg IV push, and you can repeat this every 3-5 minutes up to a total dosage of 3 mg. If the patient is not responding to atropine, consider giving transcutaneous pacing. The other option is epinephrine infusion (2-10 mcg/kg per minute. This should be titrated to the patient’s response). You can also administer dopamine infusions (5-29 mcg/kg per minute, titrated to the patient’s response).

Consider expert consultation:

After attending to the patient and if they fail to respond to treatment, seek expert consultation. If transcutaneous pacing is unavailable or ineffective, consider using transvenous pacing.

Conclusion

The ACLS (advanced cardiovascular life support) bradycardia algorithm is a protocol that healthcare providers use to manage patients with bradycardia. Bradycardia is a condition that slows down the heart rate to less than 50-60 beats per minute. Signs and symptoms of bradycardia include altered mental state, fatigue, hypotension, sweating, ischemic chest discomfort, acute heart failure, or signs of shock. In most cases, an individual with bradycardia does not get sufficient oxygenated blood to various parts of their body. Failure to treat bradycardia can lead to severe conditions such as syncope. However, it is worth noting that an individual may also experience a slow resting heart rate due to age or physical fitness activities. This blog will help you understand the ACLS bradycardia algorithm, its key steps and how to identify the underlying cause.

Causes of bradycardia

Identifying the main causes of bradycardia is important for effective treatment and management of the condition. Some of the factors that may cause bradycardia include:

Hypothyroidism

Inflammatory diseases

Imbalance of electrolytes

Myocarditis

Obstructive sleep apnea

Hypertension

Tissue damage due to heart attack, heart disease, or aging

Congenital heart defect

Essential steps in the ACLS bradycardia protocol

Understanding and effectively applying the ACLS bradycardia algorithm can be life-saving in critical situations. Every step is designed systemically to address and manage the symptoms of bradycardia and stabilize the patient’s condition promptly. Here are the steps of ACLS bradycardia:

Airway opening:

Ensure the patient’s airway is open. If not, you must assist the patient with breathing. You can do so while using the following steps:

Airway management: Begin by conducting an assessment of the patient’s airway. This will inform you if it is clear or not. Obstruction of the airway leads to inadequate oxygenation and may further exacerbate bradycardia. To assist the patient in maintaining the airway, you can apply techniques like jaw-thrust or head-tilt. If need be, you can also consider advanced airway management.

Assisting breathing: Once you establish that the patient is not breathing well, assist their breathing with ventilation using a bag-mask device or provide supplemental oxygen. Proper ventilation is crucial to improve the patient’s oxygen supply and lower the risk of further complications.

Administer oxygen if hypoxemic:

To measure the patient’s level of oxygen saturation in the body, use a pulse oximeter. Low oxygen levels, usually below 94%, mean that you must administer supplemental oxygen. You can deliver this either through a non-rebreather mask or a cannula. The method you will use depends on how severe the hypoxemia is. Moreover, it is not enough to administer oxygen. You need to conduct a continuous assessment of the patient’s oxygen saturation. This will guide you on how to adjust the flow rate of oxygen accordingly to ensure sufficient oxygenation.

Attach cardiac monitor for rhythm identification, monitor blood pressure and oximetry:

Use a cardiac monitor to evaluate the patient’s heart rhythm. This will guide you to know if the bradycardia is caused by a conduction problem or if it’s due to a particular type of arrhythmia. Secondly, you must measure the patient’s blood pressure to assess for hypotension. This is a critical indicator as it shows the patient’s hemodynamic stability. With bradycardia, a patient can experience lowered blood pressure and reduced cardiac output. Lastly, you must keep a record of the oxygen saturation levels. This information is necessary to ensure that the patient has adequate oxygen being delivered to body tissues.

Establish IV access:

To facilitate the administration of fluids, medicine, and other forms of treatment, you must obtain intravenous (IV) access. Consider using a large-bore catheter if it's available. This allows you to infuse medication or fluids more rapidly if necessary. Get ready to administer medications like atropine or other drugs as indicated in the bradycardia algorithm. If the patient is in shock or hypovolemic, provide them some fluids.

Obtain a 12-lead ECG:

To obtain a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), place electrodes on the patient. This will provide a comprehensive view of the patient’s heart’s electrical activity, allowing you to diagnose the type of bradycardia. You will also be able to identify other underlying ischemic or structural changes in the patient’s heart. Additionally, conduct an analysis of the ECG to determine which type of bradycardia the patient has. It might either be an atrioventricular block or sinus bradycardia. This information will guide you on the treatment decisions to take.

Evaluate for symptoms:

Evaluate the patient’s symptoms to determine if bradycardia is causing major symptoms. Look out for symptoms such as signs of shock, altered mental status, ischemic chest discomfort, or acute heart failure. If any of these symptoms is present, proceed with the algorithm. Follow the protocol to administer the necessary interventions and appropriate treatments. Interventions taken should be guided by how severe the underlying causes and symptoms are. You can choose to provide pacing, pharmacological treatment, or any other measure as indicated in the algorithm.

Pharmacological treatment:

After evaluating the symptoms, you can go on and administer the pharmacological treatment. Consider the following options as guided by the protocol:

Atropine: This is the first-line drug administered for symptomatic bradycardia. Administer 1 mg IV push, and you can repeat this every 3-5 minutes up to a total dosage of 3 mg. If the patient is not responding to atropine, consider giving transcutaneous pacing. The other option is epinephrine infusion (2-10 mcg/kg per minute. This should be titrated to the patient’s response). You can also administer dopamine infusions (5-29 mcg/kg per minute, titrated to the patient’s response).

Consider expert consultation:

After attending to the patient and if they fail to respond to treatment, seek expert consultation. If transcutaneous pacing is unavailable or ineffective, consider using transvenous pacing.

Conclusion

Designed by industry experts, our online PALS course utilizes interactive multimedia and advanced learning techniques to assist healthcare professionals in comprehending and applying the most cutting-edge methods in pediatric life support. Our online PALS course boosts healthcare professionals’ skills and confidence in delivering life-saving care to children during emergencies.

For a long time, reputed institutes accredited with the American Heart Association BLS have organized a PALS program for healthcare professionals, who respond to children and infants' emergencies. These are experts in emergency medicine, emergency response, critical care, and intensive care units. Moreover, the PALS AHA program is for paramedics, nurses, physicians, and other professionals who require a completion card of the PALS program to apply in diverse medical sectors. In this blog post, you will know the course format and the benefits associated with the program.  

Course Period and Course Format

Initial Course

An initial course of the PALS Certification needs about 10 and half hours to complete. During this phase, you may practice your skills followed by testing your skills. The period also includes an additional time for one lunch break and 2-3 short breaks.

Classroom-based Program

During your program, an AHA PALS instructor will conduct a few video-based lessons. Simultaneously, the instructor will work with candidates to complete their practice and tests related to advanced skills. Furthermore, every student will get 2 manikins to practice under the guidance of an AHA instructor.

Renewal Program

Candidates who want to acquire certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support should keep in mind that the program remains valid for a maximum of 2 years. Hence, to stay updated with the latest trends, you should renew your program based on the following-

Updated program without any optional station

The course duration is 6 hours and 20 minutes, where you get additional time for lunch and short breaks

Updated program with every optional station

The duration of the course is 8 hours and 20 minutes with additional periods for lunch and short breaks.

Why Online PALS Classes are Recommendable

Flexible Schedule to Attend Classes

Individuals in medical and/or healthcare professions hardly get spare time for attending classes. Many times, they study and work with patients. However, when you schedule in-person courses associated with the ACLS Certification, your instructor will allot a particular date and time for attending classes. In other words, online classes let you tailor the course dates and timings to match your schedule.

Give You a Valid Completion Card

If you are more than 18 years, you may be a part of the online BLS Certification program. After you complete your program, you will get a valid program completion card, as it remains valid for a maximum of 2 years. Later, you have to apply for the renewal course, which reputed institutes conduct online as well.

Offer Blended Learning

Depending on the institute you choose for Pediatric Advanced Life Support Near Me, you may get blended learning sessions. Accordingly, you may get hands-on experience with the option of in-person classes or sessions. In-person skill sessions play a major role to clear your doubts after the completion of the online PALS program.

Conclusion

PALS Program is mandatory for every type of healthcare provider who handles respiratory problems, cardiovascular emergencies, choking, and breathing shortness in infants and small children. If you are a healthcare expert working in a medical facility but want to pursue a PALS program, you may do it online comfortably from your home and in your chosen schedule.

PALM DESERT – Main Office

73700 Dinah Shore Drive, Suite 107,

Palm Desert, CA 92211

1-760-832-iCPR (4277)

[email protected]

The PALS Provider Course seeks to enhance pediatric patient outcomes by training healthcare personnel to recognize and intervene successfully in patients with respiratory crises, shock, and cardiopulmonary arrest using high-performance team dynamics and high-quality individual skills. The pedagogy offers several case scenario exercises that incorporate simulations to emphasize key ideas.

PALS Renew Cincinnati is American Heart Association (AHA) certified pedagogy from CPR Cincinnati. This coaching, given by CPR Cincinnati, results in the student getting the AHA PALS card, which is valid for two years. After class, cards are given out. The teachers have completed a rigorous AHA training program, ensuring that information is conveyed consistently and accurately.

Individuals who work in emergency rooms, pediatric intensive departments, urgent clinics, anesthesia units, pediatric surgery units, acute supervision units at children's hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, advanced dentistry, respiratory therapy departments, and some pharmacy departments, among other places, must have PALS certification. A word of caution: PALS certification does not replace the BLS program. BLS is a unique program.

Students will review and study content from the manual before class. Before, during, and after class, every student must have a manual. The amount of time each student spends preparing varies tremendously and is primarily influenced by how frequently the healthcare professional employs PALS in their daily work. This is also true for people who need to be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

PALS Renew Cincinnati helps to extend the certification before the expiration of the term. CPR Cincinnati makes it incredibly simple to register for renewal training. The simplest method is to look up the PALS link in the calendar. Hover your cursor over the "PALS Renew" links to find out when the class starts. Click the link when you've found a date and time that works for you.

After two years, you must engage in a PALS renewal course to refresh your abilities and reactivate the certification. As a result, you must set a deadline so that you don't forget to extend before the expiration date.

This credential is recognized as a requirement by several hospitals and medical institutions in the United States. This course is designed to check off your skills and help you gain the confidence and competence you need to give consistently for excellent pediatric and emergency supervision.

Importance of certification

Children's and newborns' bodies react in various ways than adults'. Health practitioners need to know how to handle pediatric patients in life-threatening situations.

Heart rhythms and airway management tools are two of the most significant changes when providing life support to children. Medical caregivers should also be aware of the effects of various medications on newborns and children.

PALS stands for Pediatric Advanced Life support. This is for healthcare providers that acknowledge emergencies that include infants and children. Pediatric Advanced Life support is a set of rules and guidelines that strengthen the essential idea of a formative approach to pediatric assessment, basic life support, pediatric treatment algorithms, successful resuscitation, and team dynamics, as well as pharmacology and airway management. Pediatric Advanced Life support is a set of rules and skills necessary for how an urgent response team is to deal with certain medical emergencies in infants and children until a patient stabilizes and is out of the care of the emergency team.

A Pediatric Advanced Life support course also includes some main changes in Pediatric Advanced Life support rules that include those set out by the American Heart Association and also by any state government-linked with emergency care for infants and children. A Pediatric Advanced Life support course should even include Cardiac, respiratory and shock case simulation, management of respiratory emergencies, revive team concepts, cardiac rhythm disturbances, and electrical therapy, Pediatric Advanced Life support approaches, vascular access, basics of children CPR/AED use and basics of infants CPR. Pediatric Advanced Life support courses through the California ACLS training centers are exact to 2014 AHA instruction, self-paced and also include authorized Pediatric Advanced Life support student manuals, and allow immense testing to make sure you master Pediatric Advanced Life support. Their aim is to furnish you with all of the data and practice you need to rescue children’s lives.

Their aim is to provide you with the best quality Pediatric Advanced Life support classes available online. The Pediatric Advanced Life support training program is based on the new 2016 AHA rules for Pediatric Advanced Life support (PALS) and flexible with the American Heart Association recommendation. The PALS certification California is accepted nationally and globally. Anyone from the globe can choose their budget-friendly and accurate training programs.