Imagine being in a pediatric emergency room where every heartbeat counts and every decision can make the difference between life and death. The team of healthcare providers is ready—focused, prepared, and expertly trained. But what if there was a way to push their skills even further, to ensure that every child who enters that room receives the most advanced care possible? That’s where the American Heart Association’s Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Plus course comes in—a program designed to elevate pediatric care to new heights.
The Origins of PALS Plus: A Commitment to Excellence
The PALS Plus course didn’t emerge out of nowhere; it was born out of necessity. As pediatric care became more specialized, the American Heart Association recognized that healthcare providers needed more than basic training to manage critically ill or injured children. The complexity of pediatric emergencies demanded a higher level of expertise that could only be achieved through advanced education and hands-on experience.
In response to this need, the AHA, in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, developed the PALS Plus certification course, building on the foundation of the original PALS program. The goal? To provide healthcare professionals with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to respond to pediatric emergencies and excel in them.
Who Should Take the PALS Plus Course?
PALS Plus is designed for those familiar with pediatric life support basics but ready to take their skills to the next level. This course is perfect for:
Pediatricians and Pediatric Nurses: Those who work directly with children may encounter pediatric emergencies in their daily practice.
Emergency Physicians and Nurses: Professionals who often encounter critically ill children in fast-paced, high-stress environments.
Paramedics and First Responders: Individuals who are the first on the scene must make quick, life-saving decisions.
Respiratory Therapists: Specialists who manage pediatric patients' airway issues and respiratory distress.
Anyone in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Staff who deal with the most vulnerable and critically ill children.
Pre-Requisites: Are You Ready?
The PALS Plus Course is for healthcare providers who either direct or participate in managing respiratory and/or cardiovascular emergencies, cardiopulmonary arrest, and other emergent and critical conditions in pediatric patients. Before enrolling in the PALS Plus course, participants must have a solid foundation in basic pediatric life support. This typically means holding a current PALS certification. Familiarity with the AHA’s guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiovascular care is also crucial, as PALS Plus builds on these principles.
This course is not for beginners; it’s for those ready to deepen their expertise and confidently and competently take on the most challenging cases.
Course Curriculum: What You’ll Learn
The PALS Plus course is a comprehensive, immersive experience beyond standard training. This course teaches more than the standard PALS curriculum through the addition of 9 PALS Advanced eLearning Modules related to pediatric emergencies.
The full course includes an online portion consisting of HeartCode® PALS Online and the student’s selection of at least 6 of the 9 PALS Plus Advanced eLearning Modules, followed by a HeartCode PALS hands-on skills session with an authorized AHA PALS Instructor.
Here’s a glimpse into the nine advanced curriculum modules:
Advanced Airway Management: Pediatric airways are not just small adult airways; they carry special considerations and treatments. This module compares those differences and reviews the clinical features, diagnosis, and management tactics for the lungs' obstructions and upper and lower airway diseases. It covers positive-pressure ventilation and the requirements for advanced airway placement. Additionally, the module addresses aerosol-generating procedures in the COVID-19 era.
Child Abuse: This module covers the concepts and interventions related to pediatric child abuse. Content includes topics such as recognition of risk for abuse, understanding gross-motor development, recognition of “red flags,” distinguishing bruising patterns and burn characteristics, and recognition of potential exposure to illicit substances.
Congenital Heart Disease: In this module, students learn about the general management of patients with single-ventricle anatomy and physiology. This includes changes as palliation progresses from stage I to stage III, physiologic features that can increase the risk of decompensation, monitoring, mechanical ventilation strategies, and their impact, and differences in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for these patients.
Post–Cardiac Arrest Care: The purpose of this module is to educate providers on the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of pediatric post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS), implementation of cardiac monitoring as part of PCAS, implementation of respiratory support of the intubated child during PCAC, implementation of neurologic support and monitoring during PCAC, monitoring for and managing other physiologic/organ/secondary complications of PCAS, outcomes, and prognostication after cardiac arrest, and recovery after cardiac arrest.
Sedation and Analgesia: Procedural sedation in the pediatric population presents additional factors beyond the sedation of an adult patient. This module addresses sedation levels and the associated pediatric-focused considerations. It covers the common medications and monitoring needed to keep the patient safe. The module includes several clinical scenarios for students to apply their knowledge practically.
Technologically Dependent Child: This module describes identifying and managing medical emergencies in pediatric patients with special healthcare needs. It is designed to educate students about potential complications related to intrathecal baclofen pumps, tracheostomy tubes, vagal nerve stimulators, and ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
Toxicology: This module covers identifying toxic substances through targeted history, physical exams, and diagnostic studies. It introduces standard therapies for ingestion, including methods used to minimize drug absorption and enhance excretion for common poisons. This module also reviews the effects of commonly misused or abused drugs. Additionally, it includes a section describing treatments for caustic eye injuries that children may encounter.
Trauma—Overview and Approach: This module covers concepts and interventions related to pediatric trauma. It describes unique anatomic and physiologic characteristics that affect interventions and responses to injury and subsequent management.
Ultrasound: This module covers the basic principles of ultrasound physics, basic controls standard to most medical ultrasound equipment, images obtained for an e-FAST ultrasound study, other applications of point-of-care ultrasound, and performing ultrasound assessments of the airway (A), breathing (B), circulation (C), and disability (D) (trauma).
How PALS Plus Elevates Pediatric Care
The benefits of the PALS Plus course extend far beyond a mere certification. Here’s why it’s a game-changer for those involved in pediatric care:
Enhanced Confidence and Competence: The advanced training provided by PALS Plus equips healthcare professionals with the skills they need to handle the most complex pediatric emergencies. This confidence translates to better patient outcomes, as providers can act quickly and decisively.
Up-to-date Knowledge: Medical guidelines and best practices are constantly evolving. The PALS Plus course ensures that participants are up-to-date with the latest AHA recommendations and practice the most current, evidence-based techniques.
Improved Team Performance: Pediatric emergencies are rarely handled by individuals; they require a team effort. The course’s emphasis on team dynamics and communication prepares participants to work more effectively with their colleagues, leading to more coordinated and efficient care.
Lifesaving Skills: At its core, the PALS Plus course is about saving lives. Whether it’s a child in cardiac arrest, a baby struggling to breathe, or a toddler in shock, the skills learned in this course can make all the difference in critical moments.
The American Heart Association’s PALS Plus course is more than just a training program—it’s a commitment to excellence in pediatric care. By taking this course, healthcare providers are choosing to go above and beyond to master the skills that can save the lives of our most vulnerable patients.
The PALS Plus certification is available for those who are ready to take that step. It’s an opportunity to elevate your practice, enhance your skills, and ensure that you are fully prepared for the moments when every decision counts. In the world of pediatric care, those moments are precious—and so is the training that prepares you for them.
After successfully completing all PALS Plus Provider Course components, students will receive a PALS Plus Provider eCard (a PALS Provider eCard with a special designation of “PALS Plus”), valid for two years. Sign up for an upcoming PALS Plus class here.
ACLS Academy is an authorized American Heart Associate (AHA) Aligned Training Center. We follow the AHA Curricula for PEARS Provider. We have three convenient locations in Massachusetts – Quincy, Bridgewater, and Newton Center with most of our classes including an online training component. We provide high-quality courses taught by instructors practicing in the medical profession for ACLS, TNCC, BLS, ENPC, NRP, PALS, PALS Plus, PEARS and Bloodborne Pathogen, HeartSaver CPR/AED, First Aid, and Instructor Courses. Please browse our catalog of courses.