HeartCode PALS: Pediatric Advanced Life Support Course

The HeartCode Pediatric Advanced Life Support Course (HeartCode PALS) Provider Course is an American Heart Association program that is designed to prepare healthcare providers to identify and treat cardiopulmonary arrest, as well as other common conditions that may lead to cardiopulmonary arrest in infants and children.

Pediatricians, family physicians, emergency physicians, residents, nurses, respiratory therapists, and paramedical personnel are all welcome to attend PALS Courses.

Class Description: HeartCode PALS Blended Learning Course

Our PALS courses follow the HeartCode format — a blended learning method that consists of a self-directed online course, followed by a hands-on, classroom portion. We use videos and emergency simulations to reinforce assessment strategies, basic life support, effective resuscitation methods, and team dynamics.

“The goal of the PALS Course is to improve the quality of care provided to seriously ill or injured children, resulting in improved outcomes.”

—American Heart Association

The HeartCode PALS course content includes:

  • Performing high-quality Child CPR AED and Infant CPR
  • Recognizing patients who do and do not require immediate intervention
  • Recognizing cardiopulmonary arrest early and applying CPR within 10 seconds
  • Applying team dynamics
  • Differentiating between respiratory distress and failure
  • Providing early interventions for respiratory distress and failure
  • Differentiating between compensated and decompensated (hypotensive) shock
  • Providing early interventions for the treatment of shock
  • Differentiating between unstable and stable patients with arrhythmias
  • Recognizing the clinical characteristics of instability in patients with arrhythmias
  • Providing post–cardiac arrest management
Course information courtesy of American Heart Association

The online portion takes approximately 6 to 9 hours to complete, depending on your current level of knowledge and clinical experience. The hands-on session takes approximately 3 to 4 hours.

Course Completion And Certification

Once you successfully complete the PALS Course, you will receive a PALS Provider course completion card. In order to qualify for the card, you will be required to:

  • Actively participate in, practice, and complete all learning stations
  • Pass the Rescuer Infant Basic Life Support (BLS) Skills and Rescuer Child BLS with Automated External Defibrillator (AED) exams
  • Pass one cardiac and one respiratory or shock core case scenario as a team leader, demonstrating effective team dynamics and providing appropriate medical care

The PALS Provider course completion card is valid for 2 years. We offer renewal courses in order to keep your card up-to-date.

Learn more about HeartCode PALS.

Course Location

The classroom portion of the PEARS Course will be held at the Indian Hills North building at 8401 West Dodge Road.

Indian Hills North – Lower Level
8401 West Dodge Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68114
Map it

Parking

Parking is available in the lots directly surrounding the Indian Hills North building.

Cost

  • Cost for Children’s Staff: $115 (includes PALS HeartCode, Skills Session, and e-card)
  • Cost for External Attendees: $90* (includes PALS Skills Session, and e-card)

*Fee for AHA PALS HeartCode is paid to AHA directly. See registration form for more information.

Course Dates & Registration

Click on the links below to see this year’s course dates and to register for HeartCode PALS.

For more information, contact Matt Carper at 402-955-6058 or [email protected]

X

Search the Children's Nebraska Website

Looking for a provider?