Customer Reviews

ACLS Study Guide, 3e

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For anyone coming into ACLS testing with medical knowledge but without being familiar with ACLS fundamentals, this book will make all the difference. I am a well-read pre-med with a bent on gaining medical knowledge, and I bought this book on a whim to better familiarize myself with emergency cardiac care. To give you an idea of the difference this book made, my pretest grade was 51%, my posttest grade was 88%, and when I took the Heartcode ACLS module, the nurse supervising was amazed at the time in which I completed it.

On the format, the presentation is detailed enough to provide substance to the more experienced reader while maintaining accessibility to the novice. It is also set in a format, layout, and color scheme that fosters memorization--essential for some parts of ACLS (meds, for me at least). Overall, a great buy, definitely worth your money.

I'm a telemetry RN who took my first ACLS two years ago. I purchased this book to study for my renewal.

I liked the book's laminated handout that contains the algorithms. Also, the "putting it all together" section was very helpful for practicing the mega codes. But somehow I can't bring myself to give this book a 5-star rating. Why?

There's too much book. Like most nursing books, there is so much detail that when you hit reality you can't remember anything. Next time I may try the author's Rapid ACLS book.

Also, the BLS section was only one page -- not enough when you consider that adult BLS is still about 25% of the ACLS course (even though you must take a separate BLS class to get your card.

So here's my advice if you buy this book:
-- Focus on the laminated handout and on the "putting it all together" section
-- Most important algorithms: PEA/Asystole, Pulseless VFib/Vtach, Tachycardia (both narrow and wide QRS), and symptomatic Bradycardia.
-- Know the EKG patterns related to the above, as well as normal sinus.
-- During a code, the rhythms will change (e.g. Vtach to Asystole to PEA to Sinus) so you'll have to re-evaluate what to do with each change
-- Remember that if the patient has a pulse, don't do chest compressions
-- Drugs to know: epi, amiodarone, adenosine, atropine.
-- Drugs you probably don't need to know: vasopressin, dopamine, dobutamine, lidocaine.
-- In addition to knowing the drug doseages, you need to know how frequently you can give the drug, and if there's a limit to how much you can give

Good Luck!

I love this book! The author sounds exactly like me...scared to death to take an ACLS course. I have just started using this book but so far it has helped to calm my fears/anxiety. I also have the American Heart Association book, but this one explains things very basically for those of us not in critical care and/or have no critical care experience. It gets to the point in an understandable way. I would recommend it to anyone!

Anne Mathews RN MSN FNP

I recently bought this book because I was really nervous about taking my first ACLS course. I think it's a great resource - extremely well written & very well organized; I found it to be a big help. Good luck in ACLS!

Content extremely thorough. All the info needed to pass the exam with ease. Great review questions and review/study boxes. I'm a fan and plan to order the pals study guide also.

I think this book is a great help for an ACLS class and for overall review purposes. The book goes into greater depths than the AHA book. I would suggest this book to anyone taking the course, especially to fellow paramedics.

This book DOES NOT follow AHA ACLS algorithms!! The only bookstore near me was out of the AHA ACLS book, so I bought this one because it appeared to have the same guidelines. Although the algorithms are similar, there are very important differences. For example, AHA recommends action for bradycardia based on perfusion. This book bases action for bradycardia based on narrow/wide qrs. AHA doesn't even consider qrs for bradycardia, only tachycardia. Many interventions are not in the same order as the AHA. If you are studying for an AHA course, you will NOT be learning what you need to know.

I could kick myself for wasting the money.

The book is very thorough and will certainly fill in any knowledge gaps you might have. I used the book to review the ECG analysis, but I wouldn't recommend reading through the entire book unless the material is completely unfamiliar to you. Focus more on the AHA handbook (case studies and pre-test). Your time will be better served in this manner without being overloaded.

I took the ACLS class and passed with flying colors with the help of this book and the AHA book with dvd. I took this class for continuing education credit only. I do not work in the hospital, but I wanted to know what was done in emergent care. I passed ACLS the first time because:

1. I did not have to "reprogram" myself as this was my first time ever taking an ACLS class and
2. I like to study at least from three different resources/perspectives to really grasp important concepts...sometimes someone else can explain things better, and a Lightbulb will light up!

I FOUND THIS BOOK EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO ME!! Even though I do not work in acute care, and know you have to apply what you learn (through the case simulations), I was PROUD that I had acquired a thorough grasp of the concepts presented thanks to this author and AHA. I am very grateful to all the brave medical and nursing personnel who have the guts and smarts to do this type of work everyday. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

Well this will apply to dental residents in a hospital program who have to take this course, honestly, the book was a bit too thorough,i read most of the book, i think the ACLS manual from AHA was much more concise and straight to the point, so if there is anything u dont understand then you can refer to the ACLS study guide. The best chapter however was Chapter 3 because it had lots of nice EKG diagrams and made reading EKG's very easy and identifying rhythms.But other than that its a LonGGGGG read. But u will definitely ACE the course if u manage to read it.If i had to do it again, i would probably read only chapter 3 and the study cases at the back, and use the book as a reference for areas i dont grasp in the ACLS manual.