REPORT: September 2006

Ask the Experts

Is Basic Life Support certification required for RNs?

Q.: My employer told me that the state mandates current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for all RNs working in acute care facilities. Is that true? Isn’t my certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) sufficient?

A.: Many acute care facilities require RNs to have current BLS certification, but this is not mandated by the New York State Department of Health. Any facility may set this requirement as a “facility specific” policy. The state does require, however, that all RNs have current competency in ACLS or its equivalent within one year of being assigned to the emergency room [NY7CRR Title 10, Section 405.19 (2) (iii)].

There has been some confusion about whether BLS certification is included in ACLS or PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) training or is considered a prerequisite for those courses. The answer in both cases is no. BLS is a separate certification and must be renewed every two years.

ACLS and PALS are advanced training programs that include some concepts from BLS, but if you are ACLS or PALS certified, you are not automatically BLS certified. Some RNs who have ACLS or PALS certifications let their BLS certifications expire, assuming that the advanced training supersedes or replaces BLS certification. This is an erroneous assumption. It is best practice for RNs to maintain BLS certification, especially if it is required by their employers.

According to state regulations, RNs who administer immunizing agents using non-patient specific orders must be currently certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through a training program offered by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or an equivalent acceptable to the State Education Department [Regulations of the Education Commissioner, Section 64.7(a)(3)].