Clinical Offerings

Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Prerequisite:  Current BLS certification

This program is designed to provide nurses, physicians and allied health care personnel with the knowledge and skills to identify and treat individuals in cardiopulmonary arrest or near arrest states.  Following American Heart Association criteria, participants will demonstrate competence in selected case scenarios. Successful completion of the course will enable participants to be registered with the AHA as Advanced Cardiac Life Support Providers.

The content of this program is designed to meet the following learning objectives:

• Demonstrate proper techniques in basic life support
• Demonstrate proper airway management techniques, including endotracheal intubation for adults
• Illustrate the placement of intravenous fluid lines, peripheral and central
• Perform defibrillation, synchronized cardioversion, and external pacing
• Discuss drug therapy for cardiac emergencies
• Recognize dynamic and static dysrhythmias and appropriate therapy
• Demonstrate decision-making and leadership capabilities as a team leader in simulated code situations

Instructors:  Nicholas Galioto, MD; Joyce Mischel, RN; Sue Cook, RN; Phil Sullivan, RN

All of these classes will be in Conference Room W202 (2nd floor above the West Desk)

Please contact Joyce Mischel at 515.282.2634 or jmischel@broadlawns.org to register.
You will be required to send a $30 deposit for your book and materials. This will be refunded when you turn in your book at the end of the class.

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Prerequisite:  Current BLS certification

This program is designed to provide information about:

• An infant or child at risk of cardiopulmonary arrest
• Information and strategies for preventing arrest in infant and children
• The cognitive and psychomotor skills necessary for resuscitating and stabilizing the infant or child in respiratory failure, shock or cardiopulmonary arrest

Upon completion of this program participants will be able to:

• Recognize the two most common pre-arrest syndromes and utilize interventions to prevent cardio-pulmonary arrest in the infant and child
• Diagnose and treat dysrhythmias based upon rhythm classification and hemodynamic significance
• Demonstrate and prioritize various vascular access techniques, including itraosseous cannulation
• Perform basic cardiac life support on infants and children
• Identify management priorities for the infant and child in respiratory failure, shock and cardio-pulmonary arrest

Instructors:  Nicholas Galioto, MD; Joyce Mischel, RN; Betty Jones, RN

All of these classes will be in Conference Room W202 (2nd floor above the West Desk)

Please contact Joyce Mischel at 282-2634 or jmischel@broadlawns.org to register. You will be required to send a $30 deposit for your book and materials. This will be refunded when you turn in your book at the end of the class.

Basic Electrocardiography (EKG)

Prerequisite:  Current BLS certification

This program is designed to provide nurses and technicians with the fundamental principles of Electro-physiology measurement of intervals and single lead interpretation of common dysrhythmias. Treatment modalities will also be discussed.

The content of this program is designed to meet the following learning objectives:

• Explain the basic anatomy and physiology of the heart
• Demonstrate lead placement for two or more leads
• Describe the normal intervals for ECG waveforms
• Identify and differentiate common sinus, atrial, junctional, A/V block and ventricular rhythms
• Discuss initial treatment of common dysrhythmias
• Recognize artificial pacemaker spikes on ECG

These classes will be held in Conference Room W202 (above the West Desk) unless otherwise noted.

Basic Life Support - Health Care Provider CPR

This class is designed for health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, dentists, nursing assistants and a wide variety of persons working in the health care setting. Course material is based on the BLS-2005 guidelines for the American Heart Association.

Participants will learn how to perform CPR on adults (utilizing one and two rescuers), children and infants.  Instruction will also be provided on giving assistance to victims who are choking or have become unconscious.  The course includes written and skills examinations, as well as information on the use of pocket-mask barrier devices and AED devices.

During the training, participants will learn to:

• Give CPR to an infant, child or adult whose heart has stopped beating
• Care for an infant, child, or adult who is choking
• Access the in-house and community emergency medical services (EMS) system
• Use barrier devices to protect against infection
• Respond to the signs and symptoms of stroke
• Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to re-start a victim’s heart

You may pick up the new BLS for Healthcare Providers (2005 guidelines CPR/ECC) student manual, or you may ask that it be mailed to you. You may keep this manual for the next five years. Replacements for lost student manuals cost $15.

All BLS classes will be held in Conference Room W202.

Please wear comfortable clothing, however, per Broadlawns Medical Center dress code policy, blue jeans are inappropriate.

Cost: $50 for non-Broadlawns employees.

Management of Aggressive Behavior (MAB)

Management of Aggressive Behavior (MAB) is a 1½-day program with a broad approach to crisis intervention and prevention.  Effectively managing aggressive behavior involves prevention, intervention and postvention strategies.  Staff who have direct patient contact are REQUIRED to attend the full 1½-day program. 

The physical skills and postvention strategies are discussed in the renewal class from 8 am to 1 pm the following day.  Staff needing to refresh their knowledge and practice the physical management strategies should register for the 2nd-day session.  Restraint competency will be completed for those staff needing this documented.

The content of this class is designed to meet these learning objectives:

• Understanding how patients behave in crises
• Implementing prevention and early intervention strategies
• Developing de-escalation and physical protection skills
• Understanding personal limitations and strengths
• Teaching patients alternative ways to deal with frustration, conflict, and anxiety
• Teaching patients strategies to meet their own needs and reinforce non-aggressive behaviors
• Countering physical aggression through blending
• Learning physical interventions

The first day is devoted to the instruction in the premises of MAB, prevention strategies and verbal interventions to prevent and manage aggression.  The physical skills are taught the second day.  There will also be practice of verbal de-escalation skills and conflict resolution on the second day.

 In order to be comfortable, participants should wear loose clothing and shoes.  Clogs are not premiited, due to safety. Per Broadlawns Medical Center dress code policy, blue jeans are inappropriate. 

CEUs are available for social workers and nurses for the new class.

Mandatory Reporting

Iowa Law requires all employees who have been designated mandatory reporters of child abuse and dependent adult abuse to take a two-hour class every five years. The program will help participants better understand selected clinical aspects of child abuse and dependent adult abuse, as well as the responsibilities in reporting.

Note:  Employees need to check their Mandatory Certification date.  The certification needs to be updated every five years.

Classes are offered on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 1 - 4 p.m.

Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)

The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) is a self-study course developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association. Following completion of the self-study portion, a one-day class provides review information and practices the skills described in the book.

The content of the book includes initial steps of resuscitation, bag and mask ventilation, chest compressions, medications, endotracheal intubation and special considerations. The goals are to teach providers to assist in the successful resuscitation of the newly born.

Books for self study are available from the nurses in the Family Birthing Center or from Sandi Steele. Each book has a companion CD that is helpful in studying the material.

Twelve contact hours are awarded upon first time completion of the course. Renewal is required by the AAP and AHA every two years.

NRP Schedule 2007

A new class is scheduled for October 17, 2007.  If you are interested, please contact Sandi Steele (ssteele@broadlawns.org) in the Family Birthing Center at extension 2260 before October 1, 2007.

A renewal class will be held on September 12 for those who need to renew before January 20, 2008.

Trauma Talks

This educational offering will be presented by Dr. Richard Sidwell, MD, FACS, and will highlight situations that arise in the Emergency Department that can impact the rest of the medical center. This opportunity is brought to you in conjunction with the Emergency Department.

Trauma Talks is offered every other month.  Watch your department information board for more information.

Beginning Conversational Spanish for Medical Staff

Instructor: Kimly Andriolo

• Learn to ask questions (i.e.: who, what, when, why, how and how much)
• Familiarize the student with words that are common to both English and Spanish
• Learn to give directions, explain procedures and follow-up care to patients being discharged
• Gain confidence in speaking, reading and writing Spanish through classroom activities

Instructor Bio: Kimly Andirolo
Born in Miami, Florida, Kimly Andriolo is of Hispanic decent. She spent much of her childhood in Costa Rica. Growing up, Spanish was the primary language spoken in her home.  Kimly teaches Spanish and English in private and group lessons, tutoring and as a volunteer at Des Moines and West Des Moines Public Schools. Kimly is currently employed at Broadlawns Medical Center in the Emergency Department as an RN.