1

Professional Activity Paper

I chose the professional activity of completing an online course and hands-on training to
receive an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. This certification holds
heightened significance as I am actively pursuing a career within the emergency department; an
environment that demands advanced knowledge and expertise in critical situations. As a future
registered nurse, this certification enhances my overall readiness, knowledge, and capacity to be
a pivotal asset within the interdisciplinary healthcare team. During my preceptorship, I observed
adept teams proficiently assess, monitor, and deliver advanced life support interventions tailored
to individual patient needs. This prompted my desire to expand my skillset to obtain this
certification so I can integrate them effectively within my scope of practice.
This process entailed completion of an online course and hands-on skills assessment
through American Heart Association (AHA). The online course delivered extensive teaching on
Basic Life Support (BLS) skills including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask
device, and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). These skills were then
developed to advanced critical conditions including management of respiratory and cardiac
arrest, peri-arrest conditions, acute coronary syndrome and stroke, cardiac rhythm analysis,
pharmacology, and effective communication measures a leader and member of a resuscitation
team. After mastering the online content by showing expertise through assessments and quizzes,
a completion certificate was rewarded. This completion certificate then had to be brought into an
AHA classroom to to the hands-on portion of demonstrating high quality resuscitation measures
and testing. I then received my ACLS card showing proof of certification that is available for
potential employers to view on the AHA website.
This certification process has instilled a strong sense of preparedness, adaptability, and
understanding. For airway management, I learned endotracheal intubation and supraglottic
airway device insertion and care to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Regarding
cardiovascular care, I became skilled in recognizing cardiac arrythmias on electrocardiograms
including ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, asystole, and various atrial arrythmias.
I learned how to preform synchronized cardioversion for unstable tachyarrhythmias,
defibrillation for ventricular arrythmias, and external pacing for severe symptomatic or
hemodynamically unstable bradyarrhythmias. The dosage guidelines, indications and
contraindications, and timing of medications such as adenosine, epinephrine, amiodarone,
dopamine, and lidocaine were also key components of this course. I was able to critically think
through each crisis situation and gain insight on how each medication’s mechanism of action
works to produce desired outcomes.
Regarding neurovascular events, I became familiar with different stroke scales and
severity tools which are used during neurological assessments. I gained knowledge on different
interventions such as thrombolytic therapy and endovascular therapy, including door-to-needle
time guidelines and patient eligibility. I also know the importance of blood pressure management
and cerebral perfusion pressure monitoring to ensure adequate cerebral blood flow. This section
of the course intertwined medical safety measures and how to work as a member of an
interdisciplinary team, ensuring proper continuity of care and quality improvement.
The emergency department is a fast-paced and high-pressure environment, where time
conscious interventions are vital. In order to ensure both patient safety and appropriate delivery
of targeted care, this advanced skillset is necessary. This knowledge will help me respond swiftly
and effectively to the wide variety of emergencies that I will be exposed to. I am now more
2

confident in my knowledge and ready to begin my practice as an emergency department

registered nurse.
Overall, this certification is not only a professional asset, but it is a commitment to
providing optimal patient care in the most critical situations. I am very grateful for the
opportunity I had to complete this course and I look forward to integrating my newfound
knowledge into my clinical practice. I am now competent in what to do in various
cardiovascular, neurovascular, and respiratory emergencies and how to respond using indicated
medications, interventions, and communication with my team.