ACLS

So,I have been away studying for my ACLS renewal. Yeah, I've had my ACLS for 6 years now and I still study before the class. Luckily because I have had it before I don't have to go for the full 2 days, you just have to do that the first time. Being a traveler,my company doesn't pay for the renewal. Last time was here in Phoenix, I renewed at the hospital where I was working only it wasn't American Heart. It was ASHI...who ever they are, it was the same content but a different company and some hospitals would not accept it. If you haven't taken it, it's not so bad...and if you are thinking of working in ER,Tele,ICU,OR... it's probably going to be a must have. Years ago I guess it was grueling, it was run by doctors who intimidated the participants and lots of people flunked. Today, it's mostly run by nurses and the atmosphere is one of learning not intimidating. I went to a privately owned company that has the ACLS BLS and EMT classes. The cost was $130, but I got 8 CEU's. (some consolation) Part of this years ACLS courses have to have a BLS component because of all the recent changes. If it's been a while since you took it...I'll give you some highlights. Everyone gets 100 compressions per minute, the ratio is 30:2 for everyone unless it's an adolescent or infant 2 person, then you can do 15:2,the breathing is slow and deep,no more constant checking for a pulse, and big emphasis on good compressions with full chest recoil and early AED use. The instructor I had added another component that I hadn't had before...drugs of abuse. Maybe it's because of being in this lovely border state with no fences and the #1 rating for drug trafficking. The drugs come across the border into Arizona and get trafficked out to the rest of the US. Arizona is #2 in Meth manufacturing. Stuff they don't tell ya before you move here, glad I'm just visiting.
She went over date rape drugs and what effects the different drugs have on people. She sited a great website that gives information about drugs....www.erowid.org. It's a great thing to think about when your patients aren't responding to treatment the way they should...knowing these drugs and how they make people react can be a great tool.
She also talked about working at the poison control center...which I never thought about as a nurse but what a cool job. She had some great stories especially about Thanksgiving. I love nurse stories, so I'll share some I heard today. A lady made mashed potatoes with evaporated milk that was brown. She tried the mashed potatoes because they were white after they were whipped and she said they tasted fine. She called the poison control center to see if they thought she could serve the potatoes....of course the answer was no because evaporated milk is supposed to be white and just because she tried them and they tasted fine doesn't mean she should serve them...she was not happy, because she had to go to the store and start over with boxed mashed potatoes. Another caller said she had a fire in the oven where her Thanksgiving casseroles were, they had put the fire out with the home fire extinguisher. The casseroles were covered with foil. She wanted to know if she could serve them.....Uh...no. That fire extinguisher stuff is airborne it gets everywhere. She claimed it was probably water because she didn't see any foam...water doesn't put out grease fires in an oven so, no it wasn't water and no you can't serve the food. The sad thing is she still had the turkey, stuffing, vegetables, mashed potatoes and desserts and didn't think that was enough food. Incredible!!! So, if you are looking for some good stories, you might want to consider working at the poison control center in your town. Plus you get to help people, without worrying about hurting your back...lol. Remember first do no harm.