What Is The ACLS Certification and Why Do I Need It?

a medical professional showing a heart with his hands

If you are currently in or are in the process of pursuing a career in the healthcare field, you’ve probably heard the acronym ACLS. But what does ACLS stand for? ACLS stands for Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and it is a medical certification necessary for many positions in the medical field, particularly nursing.

Who Uses ACLS?

Those in emergency or critical care units must receive ACLS training and obtain an official certification. Likewise, nurses who work in facilities in which cardiac-related emergencies are more likely to occur, such as nursing homes, are also typically required to be ACLS certified.

Additionally, since RNs and LPNs routinely work with cardiovascular patients, they too must be familiar with ACLS protocol and properly certified.

Why is it important for nurses to keep updated on standing ACLS protocols and training? Why are nurses mentioned more than physicians with this particular credential?

The reality is that nursing professionals spend far more time with patients than doctors. As such, they are also more likely to act as first responders when a patient experiences a medical emergency.

Furthermore, nurses working in emergency rooms and urgent care facilities are more likely to apply their ACLS training regularly since most cardiac-related emergencies and other life-threatening medical situations visit there first.

An ACLS card from ProMedCert

Why ACLS?

The meaning and purpose behind ACLS certification is to provide medical professionals with skills beyond basic life support, equipping them with more in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of advanced life support.

What makes ACLS important in drug therapy is that ACLS courses stand to provide training in drug therapy and effective team dynamics. These aspects are valuable when working in the field.

But what is the purpose of ACLS? The purpose of ACLS, like other similar online medical certification courses, is to improve patient outcomes by sustaining life while also working to maintain neurological function during cardiac-related events, such as heart attacks or strokes.

Because advanced life support training is based on the guidelines set by the American Heart Association and updated every 5 years, applying its protocol enhances resuscitation efforts to save more lives effectively.

Healthcare professionals are dedicated to reducing disability and mortality rates due to stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular diseases. ACLS methods are a product of this ongoing commitment to optimal patient care.

Most employers in the medical arena require ACLS certification as a condition of employment. Knowing what ACLS does and stands for makes a difference. It ensures that all employees are trained and remain abreast of any changes, improvements, and advances in the care and treatment of cardiac patients.

Get Your ACLS Certification Online

Get ready to be certified, empowered by the ethos of ACLS certification’s meaning and purpose. Thankfully, nurses and other healthcare professionals required to obtain this certification can do so on their own time with convenient online options.

In addition to our comprehensive ACLS course, ProMed Certifications offers a variety of online medical certifications, including BLS, CPR, and PALS. View our courses today!