ACLS in Vinnies?

[mojojojo]

Does anyone know if we take ACLS in Vinnies? EMC is offering it here soon, but it's 8 hours a day for 2 days over the weekend, and I have an ACS exam the Monday that follows. So I figured if I could wait until Vinnies, I would.

Thanks!

[rokshana]

Does anyone know if we take ACLS in Vinnies? EMC is offering it here soon, but it's 8 hours a day for 2 days over the weekend, and I have an ACS exam the Monday that follows. So I figured if I could wait until Vinnies, I would.

Thanks!

ironically, no, they only offer it in gnd (go figure! the people who are getting ready to go into clinicals don't get ACLS, but those in GND do!!), so if you have the chance you should take it there- or you can fly over to gnd when its offered next term (though find out IF it ill be offered next term).
In vinnies you'll get the "opportunity" to get HIPAA and OSHA training(nevermind you'll do THAT again duriing orientation to your clinical center) and TEAM(stupidest thing ever!!)- it wouldn't cross their minds to say offer something that could be useful like ACLS....

[emt036]

Unfortunately, like rokshana said, the school doesn't offer ACLS (just BLS which no one at my hospital has looked at yet), and there is no EMC in SVG to offer it (actually the only club is a charity organization). In any case, unfortunately, I don't think anyone can guarantee if/when another ACLS class will be offered. It's relatively new (this would only be the second time), and expensive (EMC is spending thousands of US dollars to bring down instructors and equipment), so depends on if it is sustainable with respect to the cost which EMC must subsidize to make the price members have to pay reasonable. So will the plan is to keep offering it, I am not sure if it would be every term or every year. Probably depends on if local instructors are available and/or if there is enough money to fly down US instructors. But contact the EMC for a better idea: St. George’s University Emergency Medicine Club » Contact the Executive Board (http://www.sguemc.com/contact/)

On a side note, you really don't have to study for the ACS exam - the practical usually everybody does fine on, and everybody fails the written, but 90% of the class ends up with a B or better by the end of St. Vincent.

[RussianJoo]

actually emt... a lot of things changed since u were in 4th term. the term above us abused the kindness of the ACS department most people didn't take the final and just left the island... so now the department is a little more strict.

[mojojojo]

So when are we supposed to take ACLS? Isn't it required before you start clinicals?

Also, Russian... what are the ACS changes?

[RussianJoo]

they're just a bit more strict then they were before that's all.

[emt036]

So when are we supposed to take ACLS? Isn't it required before you start clinicals?

Also, Russian... what are the ACS changes?
No, while ACLS is useful and good knowledge to have for clinicals, it is not required, since there would be no way that med students would be running a code by themselves (TV depictions to the contrary). Generally, it would be required for residency. As a student, BCLS is enough, since all you'll be doing is pumping and blowing.

[emt036]

actually emt... a lot of things changed since u were in 4th term. the term above us abused the kindness of the ACS department most people didn't take the final and just left the island... so now the department is a little more strict.
Well, maybe if they finally take themselves seriously enough to proof-read their exams before they are given, then perhaps the students will start taking them seriously.

[Saora1]

actually emt... a lot of things changed since u were in 4th term. the term above us abused the kindness of the ACS department most people didn't take the final and just left the island... so now the department is a little more strict.
Don't make me laugh. Abuse their kindness? Is that the garbage they told you?

I've said it before on these forums that I don't agree with what many of my classmates did (which was not to go to the practical exam on their assigned time or even day in some cases) but I don't think anyone just decided to skip the exam. Despite the fact that the classes were taught as a joke e.g. a tester docking points for not doing a procedue in the manner they want you to despite one of their colleagues teaching you said technique, it's still an exam and people need credit for it.

Like EMT said, when they take their own department and professionalism seriously, perhaps the students will as well.

PS Don't expect things to get any better in St. Vincent next term. If you've read the post I made about the fiasco with scheduling hospital rotations you'll have some idea of what I'm talking about.