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 concept
