Pediatric Advanced Life Support
(PALS)
Provider Course
Course Length: 16 Hours Syllabus (PDF)
Tuition:             $200.00 + cost of book if needed($35.00) Schedule
Location:          NHSHP Application (PDF)

Intended Audience

The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Provider Course is designed for healthcare providers who either direct or participate in the evaluation and resuscitation of pediatric patients, whether in or out of hospital and have not recently held PALS certification.

Course Introduction

The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Provider Course is designed for healthcare providers who initiate and direct advanced life support beyond basic life support through the stabilization or transport phases of a pediatric emergency, either in or out of hospital. In this course you will enhance your skills in the evaluation and management of an infant or child with respiratory compromise, circulatory compromise, or cardiac arrest.

You will actively participate in a series of simulated core cases. These simulations are designed to reinforce important concepts, including:
  • Identification and treatment of medical conditions that place the child at risk for cardiac arrest
  • The systematic approach to pediatric assessment, including general assessment, primary assessment, secondary assessment, and tertiary assessment
  • The assess-categorize-decide-act approach to assessment and management of a seriously ill infant or child
  • Effective resuscitation team dynamics

The goal of the PALS Provider Course is to improve the quality of care provided to seriously ill or injured children, resulting in improved outcomes.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
  • Understand and be able to perform the systematic approach to pediatric assessment of a seriously ill or injured child, including general, primary, secondary, and tertiary assessments
  • Use the assess-categorize-decide-act approach to decision making
  • Recognize and manage a child in respiratory distress or failure and/or compensated or hypotensive shock
  • Recognize and manage a child with life-threatening bradyarrhythmia, tachyarrhythmia, or arrest rhythm
  • Describe the key elements of effective resuscitation team behaviors and explain why the foundation of successful resuscitation includes both mastery of basic skills and effective team dynamics
  • Prevent further deterioration of a child’s condition during the stabilization and transfer phases of care

You should also be able to demonstrate the following skills:
  • Performance of effective respiratory management skills, including use of oxygen delivery devices, suctioning, oropharyngeal airway (OPA), nasopharyngeal airway (NPA), bag-mask ventilation, and endotracheal (ET) intubation (according to scope of practice)
  • Appropriate use of electrical therapy, including defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion
  • Proper technique for intraosseous (IO) access and fluid bolus administration
  • Performance as a team leader or team member in simulated cases

Course Description

To help you achieve these objectives, the PALS Provider Course includes skill stations, CPR/AED competency testing, learning stations, core cases testing stations, and written testing.
This course includes the following skill stations:
  • Management of respiratory emergencies
  • Rhythm disturbances/electrical therapy
  • Vascular access

In the learning stations you will actively participate in a variety of learning activities, including:
  • Core case discussions using a systematic approach to pediatric assessment and decision making
  • Core case simulations
  • Effective resuscitation team behaviors

Course Prerequisites and Preparation

Since the PALS Provider Course does not teach algorithms, ECG recognition, pharmacology, or CPR, complete the self assessment CD-based test on the student CD to identify any gaps in your knowledge of these topics. The assessment will give you immediate feedback after each question and provide a summary of your strengths and weaknesses at the end. Use this information to identify any deficiencies in your knowledge. Increase your knowledge by studying applicable content in the PALS Provider Manual, Course Guide, the student CD, or other supplementary resources.
The following knowledge and skills are required for successful course completion:
  • BLS skills
  • ECG rhythm identification
  • Basic pharmacology
  • Practical application of knowledge to clinical scenarios
  • Resuscitation team concepts

Requirements for Successful Course Completion

To successfully complete the PALS Provider Course and obtain your certification card, you must do the following:
  • Actively participate in, practice, and complete all skills stations and learning stations
  • Pass a skills test for child 1-recuer CPR/AED and infant 1 and 2-recuer CPR
  • Pass a written exam with a passing grade of 84%
  • Pass two PALS core cases tests as a team leader

Schedule


     
Feb 9 2012 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM & Feb 10 2012 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
May 10 2012 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM & May 11 2012 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Aug 9 2012 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM & Aug 10 2012 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Nov 8 2012 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM & Nov 9 2012 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

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