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Requirements for CPR Certification for Nurses


Nurses take on an incredible amount of responsibility as medical professionals. From urgent care clinics to hospitals to family practice offices, nurses are often the first healthcare personnel on the scene – which means nurses need to be prepared for anything.

Learn more about the requirements for BLS and CPR certification for nurses – then get started with your certification online!

Do Nurses Need to Be CPR Certified?

Summary:

Nurses need to obtain a BLS certification with a hands-on component to complete their nursing license requirements, and they may be eligible to receive up to four Continuing Education (CE) Credits for ProTrainings' BLS course.

Nurses are required to obtain a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, which is more advanced training than the typical first aid certification. They must complete a hands-on component, either through a blended program or a classroom course. Employers may provide on-site manikin training, and nurses are eligible to receive CE credits for BLS, ACLS, and PALS courses. ProTrainings can help nurses complete the steps to claim these credits.



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Dive Deeper:

Because nurses are charged with a wide variety of responsibilities and see patients of all ages and with ailments of all kinds, they need to be prepared to help their patients and colleagues with any situation that arises. This includes being trained in CPR with a proper Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. 

As a requirement of their profession and their nursing license, nurses are required to obtain a BLS certification with a hands-on training component to complete their nursing license requirements. Once a nurse is licensed and employed, her BLS certification requirements will come from his or her employer. 

BLS certification programs are more advanced training programs for CPR and other life-saving skills that are designed specifically for healthcare professionals. 

Oddly enough, nurses are not required to obtain first aid certification; they are only required to complete and maintain a BLS certification. While this may seem strange at first glance, nurses complete a vast education and training program that includes first aid skills and goes beyond typical first aid certification courses. 

Nurses are typically required to complete a BLS certification course that includes a hands-on component, either through a blended program or a classroom course. If your employer provides on-site hands-on manikin training, you may be able to complete the BLS course online to supplement the hands-on component.

Also, according to the American Nursing Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC), nurses are eligible to receive up to four Continuing Education (CE) Credits for ProTrainings’ BLS course, as well as ACLS and PALS courses. If you need assistance, ProTrainings can help you complete the steps to claim these credits.

Which Path to CPR Certification for Nurses Is Right?


CPR certification for Nurses are determined based on three criteria: 

Course Content


Nurses are healthcare professionals, which means they are required to complete healthcare-level training in Basic Life Support. This is your course content requirement. Be sure to select CPR classes for nurses that specifically includes BLS training.

Course Delivery Modality


Most likely, your employer’s CPR requirements for nurses will state that you need to complete a CPR certification program that involves a hands-on training program. This is your course delivery modality requirement. Look for a program listed as a “blended” course, which means there is a hands-on training portion, manikin, and live video skills assessment with an instructor in order to meet the requirements to earn a CPR certification for nurses.

Course Brand


Finally, some professions are bound to certain course brand requirements. However, there are no brand requirements for nurses, so you are able to complete your training with flexible online providers like ProTrainings.


Be sure to check your state’s unique requirements in order to select a CPR certification for Nurses that’s right for you.
State Lookup

What Are the Requirements for CPR Certification for Nurses in Your State?


There may be specific CPR certification requirements and special considerations for Nurses performing CPR according to your state. To learn more about which requirements impact you, select your state on the map below.

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