Are you considering a career as a support staff or a registered nurse? Then there’s something you can’t overlook: your Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Most hospitals in the United States require new employees to present a valid BLS certification during onboarding.
According to the American Red Cross, only 10% of people have survived cardiac arrest in the past 20 years. That’s why BLS classes are key to equipping healthcare professionals with the skills to act during emergencies. But how exactly do these classes fit into hospital onboarding protocols? Let’s explore below.
Why is BLS Certification Required in Hospitals?
BLS certification is a legal requirement across almost every hospital in the United States. This makes the course non-negotiable for anyone whose role specifically involves patient care. Without this course, you won’t get past onboarding at many facilities in the U.S.
Meanwhile, there are three primary reasons why many hospitals require you to be BLS-certified:
Patient Safety First
BLS classes enable you to respond to cardiac arrest, choking, and similar emergencies. It means you can revive the victim and increase their chances of survival until advanced care arrives. In fact, rapid BLS intervention can increase survival rates in cardiac cases.
Building Confidence and Reducing Risk
You can always act swiftly and decisively in an emergency, especially if you are a BLS-certified professional. This reduces uncertainty and legal liability for both you and your employer. Eventually, you become confident enough to tend to patients in any cardiac or respiratory emergency.
Standardization Across the Workforce
If your workforce is BLS-certified, it means every one of them follows a uniform protocol during emergencies. This consistency helps streamline responses across departments and improves coordination in critical moments. In short, the standardization of BLS skill requirements ensures that patient care meets national safety standards.
Where Does BLS Training Fit in Hospital Onboarding?
Most hospitals start their onboarding processes with compliance essentials and safety training, including BLS. You are likely to receive instructions to complete your BLS course before or within a few days of your official start date.
Let’s understand how these BLS training classes fit into hospital onboarding protocols:
Blended Learning
Hospitals often accept both online and instructor-led certifications from their new employees. Most of these institutions have rolled out protocols that expect you to complete eLearning modules at your convenience. This must be followed by a hands-on skills session on-site to ensure you know how to treat patients accurately.
In-person Skills Check
All new staff must also demonstrate rescue skills related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) usage, and choking. The best way to learn these skills is by enrolling in a BLS training course. This allows you to comply with hospital protocols regarding first-aid techniques.
Certification Verification
Hospitals may request a copy of your BLS certification for Human Resources (HR) records before or during your first week. Some may also coordinate with certified training providers to validate your BLS credentials directly. This helps ensure your certification is compliant and up to date.
Integration with Job-Specific Training
BLS training is related to various other job-specific modules across healthcare settings. This applies especially if you are working in emergency care, ICU, or pediatrics. Hence, clinics and hospitals always try to make sure BLS is aligned with your department’s expectations. This helps them determine whether you are ready to respond confidently in high-stress scenarios.
When Should You Renew Your BLS Certification?
Hospitals often expect your BLS certification to remain valid throughout your tenure because your role involves direct patient care. Here’s what you need to know about the certification renewal:
How Long is a BLS Certification Valid?
BLS certifications from accredited and recognized providers are valid for 2 years. Hospitals usually ask you to renew at least a month in advance to avoid compliance gaps. If your certificate expires, you may not be allowed to continue clinical work until renewal.
What Happens During BLS Renewal?
BLS renewal courses are shorter than full-length certifications. You will review life-saving skills like CPR and AED use, and complete a practical skills test. Some hospitals even conduct on-site renewal drives to make the process smoother for employees.
Who Monitors Your Certification Status?
Hospital HR or training coordinators usually track certification expiry dates and send reminders. In some cases, hospitals may also tie renewal to your annual competency checks or training schedules.
Tips to Prepare for Your BLS Course During Onboarding
Starting a new hospital job can feel overwhelming. However, you can always try preparing early for your BLS certification to make onboarding smoother. Here are some practical tips:
Brush Up on Core Concepts Before Day 1
It’s a smart move to revisit some basics like high-quality chest compressions, AED usage, and how to respond to choking. This applies even if you are already a BLS-certified professional. You can find several training providers online that offer free video demos and PDFs to help refresh your memory.
Check if Your Hospital Offers BLS Training
Many hospitals include BLS as part of their onboarding process, either through in-house instructors or tie-ups with training providers. Check with your HR coordinator if the hospital covers the BLS training fee or expects you to complete it externally.
Practice Before Your Hands-on Skills Test
Whether you take a blended course (online + in-person) or a fully in-person one, you have to pass a skills check. Practice on a pillow, cushion, or CPR dummy at home to get comfortable with hand placement and breath timing. Eventually, these practices can help you build confidence when helping patients in emergencies.
Schedule Your Course Around Onboarding Timelines
Most hospitals give you a tight deadline, often a few days, to complete your BLS training before onboarding. It is usually recommended not to wait until the last minute. Make sure to register for a BLS course as soon as you receive your onboarding instructions to avoid delays in employment.
Complete BLS Classes Before Your Onboarding!
No matter how well-equipped and qualified you are, hospitals will require you to showcase your basic life-saving skills. So, attending BLS classes and getting your certification beforehand can prove fruitful here. These training courses also allow you to learn more about CPR, AED usage, choking rescue, and other first-aid techniques.
This means you are well-equipped to help patients in all situations. So, if you want to increase your chances of employment and comply with onboarding procedures, consider BLS certification now!
