Adult Basic & Advanced Life Support

Division 1 nursing personal working with Code Blue Specialist Nursing and other nursing agencies work in diverse clinical areas.  Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) encompass a knowledge base, practical and theoretical, expected by many institutions to ensure competent and safe practice when a life threatening emergency presents itself.
The expanding role of the registered nurse and their ability to work in diverse clinical environments (eg. Intensive care, emergency departments, coronary care and the operating theatre), requires sound theoretical knowledge together with a competent skill base to manage patients in a life threatening emergency.  As part of this role, the division 1 registered nurse may be required to initiate and maintain ALS measures in the absence of, or in conjunction with, a medical officer.

Where medical intervention is limited, as in rural and remote areas, or medical centres with limited medical cover, the registered nurse may be required to provide life support for extended periods of time until medical assistance is available.
The expanding role of the registered nurse together with a diverse working clinical environment comes the need for national uniformity in education, standards and competency. 

The definition of Basic Life Support as described by the ARC Advanced Life Support policy statements (March 1998, No  11.1, p, 1) is:

The preservation or restoration of life by the establishment of and/or the maintenance of airway, breathing and circulation, and related emergency care. 

The definition of Advanced Life Support as described by the ARC Advanced Life Support policy statement (March 1998, No.  11.1, p. 1) is:

Advanced Life Support is described as, “Basic Life Support (BLS) with the addition of invasive techniques, for example, defibrillation, advanced airway management, intravenous access and drug therapy.”

Program Content
Training program content will provide the participants with the theoretical knowledge and clinical exposure to achieve the competencies in the initiation and maintenance of ALS.
This ALS training program is adult based and incorporates the following:

● Basic life support (either as a pre-requisite or part of the course.
● ARC basic and advanced life support algorithms and ARC
guidelines.
● Adjuncts for airway maintenance and manual ventilation.
● Electrocardiograph monitoring.
● Dysrhythmia detection.
● Defibrillation monophasic/biphasic (cardioversion where applicable).
● Pharmacological interventions.
● Electrical safety issues.
● Fluid therapy and alternative access to circulation.
● Aspects pertaining to occupational health and safety.
● Professional, legal and ethical aspects in relation to BLS and ALS.
● IV cannulation.
● Post resuscitation care.
● Transport of patient.