What does ASPAN say about the standards of L&D nurses obtaining and maintaining ACLS certification?
A. ASPAN is the Society that represents perianesthesia nurses working in the preanesthesia phase, postanesthesia care units, ambulatory settings, extended observation settings, special procedures (cardioversion, ECT, endoscopy, invasive radiology), pain management, etc. The assumption is that the above question refers to L&D nurses who recover patients that have had general or regional anesthesia after a C-section. However, relative to L&D nurses who care only for the laboring patient or a patient who has delivered normally under regional anesthesia, ASPAN has no such requirement (to obtain/maintain ACLS?). ASPAN’s Standard III addresses Staffing and Personnel Management. With regard to ACLS/PALS certification it states: “The professional perianesthesia nurse providing Phase I level of care will maintain a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and/or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) provider status as appropriate to the patient population served.” ASPANs Standard III also:
