What is a BCLS certification?

To obtain the BCLS certification, you must first become a registered nurse through nursing school and obtain the Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. The BLS certification is a strict requirement for all registered nurses.

The BCLS certification is designed for nurses who take care of critically-ill adults and focuses on the hospital setting. The ACLS course provides knowledge in the following areas:

• A review of BCLS skills

• Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest

• Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions, such as symptomatic bradycardia

• Airway management, including intubation

• Related pharmacology to these issues

• Management of ACS and stroke

• Efficient and effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team

You must also pass a written 50-question exam to get your BCLS certification. There is also a hands-on portion to the exam that covers real-life scenarios, including:

• Choking

• Cardiac arrest

• Stroke

• Demonstrating skills with chest compressions

• Demonstrating skills with rescue breathing

BCLS certification is good for two years. After your BCLS certification expires, you must attempt to recertify within 30 days. To recertify you must enroll in an abbreviated BCLS course, pass, and gain certification for another two years. If your certification has been expired for more than 30 days, you need to retake the full BCLS certification course.

A BCLS certification is useful for many different medical and emergency professions, including:

• Nurse

• Doctor

• Firefighter

• Police Officer

• Paramedic

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)