Raven EMS Education Program ManualRAV-180 Pediatric Advanced Life Support (AHA PALS) Course
 | This course teaches the proper evaluation and treatment of a pediatric patient in cardiopulmonary arrest (NC Community Colleges, 2024). |
Course Description
The PALS course is designed to certify Emergency Medical Personnel in Pediatric Advanced Life Support through the American Heart Association. It is desirable but not required that an ALS certification be held. The PALS Provider Course aims to improve outcomes for pediatric patients by preparing healthcare providers to effectively recognize and intervene in patients with respiratory emergencies, shock, and cardiopulmonary arrest by using high‐performance team dynamics and high-quality individual skills. The course includes a series of case scenario practices with simulations that reinforce important concepts. Upon successful completion of all the patient cases, students must pass the multiple-choice exam with a minimum score of 84% (Combined course library, 2024).
Prerequisites
Complete the PALS Precourse Self Assessment with a minimum score of at least 70%. Bring proof of successful completion listing both your name and your score. Links:
Course Options
- Blended Learning Heartcode: HeartCode PALS uses a personalized adaptive algorithm that sets students on the most efficient path to PALS mastery. Students follow a continuously adapting learning path that is personalized by their own inputs: their performance and their self- reported confidence level related to each probe. The course content is presented in the form of self-directed learning content, probes, and Cognitive Assessment Activities. The student has a choice of completing a pre-hospital or in-hospital contextualized track. After completing the online portion, students will attend a structured, Instructor-led hands-on session that focuses on meaningful skills practice, debriefing, team scenarios, discussions of local protocols and skills testing. Where available, students may also complete the hands-on session with a HeartCode compatible manikin. HeartCode PALS is the AHA’s PALS blended learning delivery method. Blended learning is a combination of eLearning, in which a student completes part of the course in a self-directed manner, followed by a hands-on skills session. With the new adaptive learning format, the timing for completing the online portion of HeartCode PALS can vary depending on the student’s level of experience. The hands-on session for HeartCode PALS will take approximately 5 hours with breaks, or 4 hours and 50 minutes without breaks.
- Classroom: The PALS Provider Course aims to improve outcomes for pediatric patients by preparing healthcare providers to effectively recognize and intervene in patients with respiratory emergencies, shock, and cardiopulmonary arrest by using high‐performance team dynamics and high‐quality individual skills. The course includes a series of case scenario practices with simulations that reinforce important concepts. PALS ILT Traditional Full Course is 17 hours and 15 minutes with breaks; 16 hours and 45 minutes without breaks.
Course Topics
- Perform high‐quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) per American Heart Association (AHA) basic life support (BLS) recommendations
- Differentiate between patients who do and do not require immediate intervention
- Recognize cardiopulmonary arrest early and begin CPR within 10 seconds
- Apply team dynamics
- Differentiate between respiratory distress and failure
- Perform early interventions for respiratory distress and failure
- Differentiate between compensated and decompensated (hypotensive) shock
- Perform early interventions for the treatment of shock
- Differentiate between unstable and stable patients with arrhythmias
- Describe clinical characteristics of instability in patients with arrhythmias
- Implement post–cardiac arrest management
Change Log (7.12.916.C180)
| Date | Author | Description of Change | Citations |
|---|
| 2025-01-11 | Becker, T.Theron Jack Becker | Moved this course to its own page from x.xx.916. | |
