ACLS is a step up from BLS. While BLS seeks to impart learners with basic life support skills, ACLS training covers more advanced emergency medical care.
The overarching goal of ACLS is to minimize medical errors and enhance patient outcomes in healthcare institutions or other scenarios that may call for emergency medical interventions. So significant is ACLS that many medical facilities require their healthcare providers to possess ACLS certifications.
One of the biggest dilemmas for healthcare professionals seeking ACLS certification is whether to pursue an online training program or opt for in-person classes. Each option has its strengths and weaknesses.
In this article, we shall highlight why in-person ACLS training may suit you better.
What Is ACLS?
ACLS is an abbreviation for advanced cardiac or cardiovascular life support. It denotes a set of clinical guidelines that healthcare professionals must follow when responding to urgent and emergent treatments for cardiovascular conditions that might trigger cardiac arrest.
The American Heart Association (AHA) sets the ACLS standards. Such guidelines are acceptable not only in North America but worldwide.
Unlike basic life support (BLS), which can be administered by non-healthcare providers, ACLS is almost exclusive to doctors and nurses. The technique requires advanced medical procedures, techniques, and (sometimes) medications to restore a patient’s condition.
ACLS’s technical approach TO preventing potential cardiac arrest is one of the reasons to enroll in an in person ACLS class rather than pursue the course online.
The following section highlights other perks of in-person ACLS training.
Incentives of In-Person ACLS Training
- Emphasizes Live Demonstrations
Flexibility is the biggest appeal of taking ACLS training online.
Proponents of online learning argue that they can swiftly go through large volumes of notes and earn their ACLS certification in no time. However, that comes at the expense of practical lessons.
While online ACLS training utilizes interactive slideshows, these visual presentations are insufficient compared to live demonstrations used during in-person classes.
ACLS is a technical skill, so it is necessary to pursue it in environments where learners can test their expertise in real-life scenarios. The live demos in physical classes encourage practice, allowing trainees to perfect the learned skills.
- Accommodates Different Learners
In-person ACLS training allows learners to engage freely with their trainers.
Such interactions can be instrumental in various ways. Notably, they help instructors gauge their students’ learning pace and adapt teaching models appropriately.
That incentive is glaringly lacking in online ACLS classes, where trainers typically model their lessons based on the fastest-learning students.
During in-person ACLS programs, trainees also watch their colleagues demonstrate the learning materials. These illustrations can help reinforce the theory part of the course. Besides, research has proven that it’s easier to recall live demonstrations than mere notes.
- Encourages Tactile Learning
Not only do people learn at different speeds, but each individual possesses unique learning styles as well.
Some students can quickly master a concept merely by sitting through a lecture. Others are more tactile and kinesthetic learners.
Tactile learning techniques utilize touchable objects to impart crucial skills to students.
ACLS trainees who attend online classes can visually interact with objects like manikins. However, they cannot touch or feel these training materials realistically.
In-person classes let you interact more closely with the training materials, which can provide a significant head start to the learning process.
- Access to Insider Information
No matter how professionally a course of study is modeled, there will always be critical insights that only the tutors themselves can share.
Enrolling in an in-person ACLS class provides unhindered access to learning materials. More importantly, it lets you tap into the trainers’ personal knowledge and experience.
The trainer will be happy to share invaluable techniques that aren’t covered in the course of study.
Such tricks result from extensive experience handling real cardiovascular emergency situations. They can hone your skills further and give you a tactical advantage over your online-trained counterparts.
- Provides Immediate Feedback
Feedback is critical to the success of any training program. That’s especially if it’s available immediately.
In-person ACLS training provides sufficient room for immediate feedback. Learners can shoot queries on unclear areas and get prompt feedback.
Some online ACLS programs also have provisions for instant feedback through automated quizzes. However, in most cases, the quizzes are generic and may not provide valuable feedback to learners.
With in-person training, you can query the instructor on any aspect of the program for swift and accurate responses. Such queries may also help your trainer identify your strengths and recommend improvements appropriately.
- Helps Learners Build Confidence
Medical emergency situations can be frightening for new and inexperienced healthcare providers. It’s worse for scenarios that involve saving lives.
Training on critical life-saving skills for cardiac arrest victims isn’t something you want to do online.
Besides lacking a realistic learning environment in internet-based classes, the whole experience can be flat-out scary for beginners. That’s especially if you’re the only learner in the room.
In-person ACLS training allows you to interact with instructors and fellow students as you share notes on the information you have learned. This can sharpen your skills further and build the confidence you need to complete the course.
- Enhances Collaboration
Most ACLS skills are deployed in healthcare centers packed with doctors and nurses. Therefore, teamwork is critical to the success of these procedures.
In-person ACLS training fosters collaboration by letting you undertake live demonstrations alongside fellow learners.
A simulated learning environment would probably entail the ‘lead doctor’ yelling instructions as you grab a manikin and another pair of hands administering CPR. You’ll need that team spirit when dealing with real medical emergencies.
Practicing the live demos as a team can further strengthen your confidence when handling actual emergencies. It also reinforces the topics learned, helping accelerate your ACLS certification.
- Globally Acceptable
Most medical institutions recognize ACLS certifications earned through in-person rather than online-based programs.
It can be disappointing to brave hours or days of online classes only to deny your ACLS credentials. It’s worse if you’re a job applicant, as the invalidity of your certifications may have you subsequently knocked off the merit list.
The surest way to avoid such inconveniences is to enroll in an in-person ACLS program.
However, remember that the institution where you obtain ACLS certification equally matters. Insist on reputable organizations like AHA.
Summary
Online ACLS training may appeal to healthcare professionals who desire the freedom to take the classes when they’re available and learn at their own pace. However, based on the above-mentioned incentives for in-person training, it’s better to pursue ACLS training physically than via the Internet.
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