 As healthcare professionals, we learn

that the basis of life-saving technique in

an emergency situation begins with
assessment and the implementation of
CPR. Learning and practicing these
techniques to learn how to utilize each
moment can result in successfully
resuscitating a patient and improve
quality of life. (Stewart, 2014)
 The American Heart Association provides a
website with a variety of information and
training resources including online
simulation training for Basic Life Support
(BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support
(ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life
Support (PALS)
 These training courses can be accessed
and provided by an individual’s place of
employment without cost, or online from
home with a monetary fee.
 AHA main site: www.onlineaha.org
› American Heart Association
 AHA BLS site: www.onlineaha.org/courses#3
› AHA Heartcode BLS
 AHA ACLS site:
www.onlineaha.org/courses#2
› AHA Heartcode ACLS
 AHA PALS site:
www.onlineaha.org/courses#4
› AHA Heartcode PALS
(American, 2018)
 Once the main AHA website is
accessed, click on the courses tab. A
dropdown menu will appear with many
choices of courses.
 ACLS, BLS, and PALS are the first three
courses listed.
 Easy access for the consumer as well as
healthcare professionals
 Once the preferred course is accessed,
the learner begins viewing videos of the
training material
 These videos provide instruction for the
course of action given specific
emergency scenarios with a variety of
issues and ages of people in crisis
 To pass the course, the learner must
complete scenarios in a specific time frame
while performing BLS, ACLS, or PALS
techniques in an orderly and accurate
fashion in order to save the patient’s life.
 If performance falls below desired levels,
the course will give feedback about what
was inaccurate.
 The course may be accessed multiple times
in order to complete the course
 To receive a certification card by the
American Heart Association for BLS,
ACLS, or PALS, an in-person review of
skills learned is required
 Easy access by the consumer and
healthcare professionals
 May repeat the simulation until passing
 Can access the video training as
needed
 Can show a learner’s strong points in
providing emergency care

(Azizzadeh Forouzi, et al., 2016)

 Can take a long period of time to
complete the course
 No in-person, hands-on training
 Can show a learner’s weak points in
providing emergency care
 Learner cannot actively ask questions
that may be needed for successful
demonstration in a “real life” situation
(Azizzadeh Forouzi, et al., 2016)
 A research study performed and
reported by Malarvizhi, et al. showed
results of a great increase in knowledge
of Bachelor’s degree nursing students
pre-simulation vs. post-simulation. This
research was based on training the
students in infant resuscitation (2017)
 Simulation can be a great learning tool
for nursing students to retain information
and solidify techniques (Aqel & Ahmad,
2014)
American Heart Association. (2018). Retrieved from
http://online.aha.org
Aqel, A. A., & Ahmad, M. M. (2014). High-Fidelity Simulation
Effects on CPR Knowledge, Skills, Acquisition, and Retention in
Nursing Students. Worldviews On Evidence-Based
Nursing, 11(6), 394-400. doi:10.1111/wvn.12063
Azizzadeh Fourozi, M., Heidarzadeh, A., Kazemi, M., Jahani, M., &
Afeshari, M. (2016). Comparison of the Combined based with
the mannequin based simulation models in self efficacy,
performance and satisfaction of nursing students on
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Asian Journal Of Nursing
Education & Research, 6(1), 69-73. doi:10.5958/2349-
2996.2016.00014.8
 Stewart, A. J. (2014). Basic life support for cardiac arrest:
where every second counts. Nursing & Residential
Care, 16(4), 212-216.
 Malarvizhi, G., Glory, H., Rajeswari, S., & Vasanthi, B. C. (2017).
Outcome of Clinical Simulation on Neonatal Resuscitation in
Development of Knowledge and Skill among Baccalaureate
Nursing Students at a selected Nursing Institution. Asian
Journal Of Nursing Education & Research, 7(3), 417-422.
doi:10.5958/2349-2996.2017.00083.0