Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider

 

This course enables healthcare professionals to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to better recognize and treat critically ill infants and children. The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Blended Course is designed to deliver high-quality content and instruction to healthcare providers through a combination of online and in-person learning. The course materials are scenario-based, and a team approach is used to teach emergency management of pediatric patients approaching or already in respiratory or cardiac arrest, from the early minutes through patient stabilization and/or the transport phases of a pediatric emergency, in or out of the hospital.

 

Target Group

The PALS Blended Course is designed for healthcare professionals who initiate and direct advanced life support in pediatric emergencies and for healthcare students seeking first-time or renewed PALS-training credentials.

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Pre-requisites

RN, RRT, LPN, MD, DDS or AEMCA, and the successful completion of the Heart & Stroke Foundation Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider (C) status dated within 12 prior to the course. Students of a health profession are eligible to enroll in the PALS Provider course if: (1) they are in their final stage of training before entering practice and (2) they have successfully completed the PEARS Provider course within the past 6 months. For information on the PEARS Provider course, please see Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization (PEARS) below.

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Required Student Materials

• Heart & Stroke Foundation Pediatric Advanced Life Support provider manual and PALS card.

 

PALS Blended Course Part I: Self-Directed Learning

​For the self-directed component, participants will have access to Heart & Stroke videos and scenarios to review on line through the Heart and Stroke portal resources.

 

Videos:

• The pediatric systematic approach

• The role of high-quality CPR and airway management

• Respiratory, shock and cardiopulmonary arrest emergencies and early interventions

• Arrhythmias

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Requirements:

• An individual Heart & Stroke Resuscitation portal account 

• Internet connection

• Computer or device with speakers or headset

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PALS Blended Course Part II: In-Person Learning

1. Review the components of the pre-course checklist that came with your PALS Provider Manual.

2. Be prepared to pass the Child CPR and AED Skills Testing Checklist and Infant CPR skills testing checklist. CPR and use of the AED will not be taught during the class, the resuscitation scenarios require that your BLS skills and knowledge are current. Review and understand all 2020 BLS guidelines, especially as they relate to pediatric patients.

3. Review and understand the information in your PALS Provider Manual and on the Student Website. The pre-course assessment certificate consists of 3 sections: ECG rhythm identification, pharmacology, and practical application. This assessment completion is required for part II of the PAL Hybrid Course. Use this assessment to identify areas where you need to increase your knowledge.

4. Be familiar with the PALS algorithm and flowcharts so that you can apply them to clinical scenarios. Note that the PALS Course does not present the details of the algorithm.

5. It is essential that you bring your PALS 2015 Manual and PALS card; you will refer to them during the course.

 

Course Content

• Recognition and treatment of infants and children at risk for cardiopulmonary arrest

• Systematic approach to pediatric assessment

• Effective respiratory management

• Validation of skills for one-person and two-person CPR and AED skills for infants and children

• Defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion

• Intraosseous access and fluid bolus administration

• Effective resuscitation team dynamics

 

Students must pass an exam and skills test in order to qualify for a PALS Provider Course Completion Card.

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Approximate length of course

Self-directed learning and 1 day in person training

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