CPR certification is a requirement for attendance in the clinical area. In choosing a course from either the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross, keep in mind the course description must indicate it is appropriate for health care providers/professionals and that CPR for both adults and children will be taught. Nursing students must have completed a course designed for health professionals from either the:
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support OR American Heart Association Heartcode (this is an online course followed by a face-to-face skills test)
- American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer OR American Red Cross Health Care Provider course
When contacting any agency or organization to make a reservation for a CPR course, tell them you are a nursing student and need a course for health care professionals. Certification is at the student's own time and expense, and must be completed by the beginning of their program. Cards/certificates must be presented to the Program Chair/Coordinator showing date completed and the instructor's and student's signatures. Students are responsible to provide renewal cards documenting certification through the date of graduation. Students will not be allowed in the clinical setting if current CPR certification has not been provided. American Heart Association cards and American Red Cross cards need to be renewed every two years.
Approved recertification courses include a written competency test and a live return skills demonstration. Courses that are entirely online or that do not include all of the above are not acceptable. The American Heart Association website offers help in locating providers of certification courses in your zip code area. DMACC's
Continuing Education Department offers monthly Basic Cardiac Life Support CPR Certification courses for Health Care Professionals that comply with American Heart Association guidelines.