Be Ready When Seconds Matter: Earn Your PALS
Pediatric emergencies are a different game: airway anatomy, rapid decompensation, weight-based dosing, and family dynamics all raise the stakes. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) equips clinicians in ED, PICU, NICU, pediatric transport, and urgent care with a structure for fast assessment and coordinated intervention. The most effective resuscitations start with a calm, shared mental model—recognizing respiratory distress early, classifying shock quickly, and communicating clearly.
Chicago’s Pulse’s PALS page makes planning straightforward. You’ll find initial and renewal dates listed side-by-side, with tuition for each and a “Sign up for class” link under every session. That visibility is especially helpful if your team wants to bundle multiple seats on the same day or balance staffing across weekends. As with other advanced courses, PALS e-cards are issued after successful completion—excellent if you’re onboarding for a January start date or credentialing before the new year. chicagospulse.com
Preparation is non-negotiable. The page outlines exactly what to do before class: bring the 2020 PALS Provider Manual (#20-1119), complete the AHA online pre-course work and self-assessment (70%+), and review BLS infant/child skills because you’ll be tested on them in class. You’ll also be asked to familiarize yourself with PALS algorithms and flowcharts ahead of time; classroom time focuses on application, not first-exposure teaching. chicagospulse.com
What you’ll practice: systematic pediatric assessment (general impression → primary → secondary → ongoing), respiratory and circulatory management, rhythm recognition, defibrillation for shockable rhythms, synchronized cardioversion for unstable tachycardia, and post-resuscitation stabilization. Instructors—active clinicians—emphasize closed-loop communication and role clarity: compressor, airway, medication, monitor/defib, recorder, and team leader. You’ll rotate through positions to ensure you can plug into any team quickly.
Just as important is what PALS doesn’t try to do in a single class: it won’t teach you to read ECGs from scratch or deliver a pharmacology mini-semester. The course assumes you’ve prepped those components, which allows more time for scenario work and debriefing. Bring questions you encountered while studying; instructors can help you connect guidelines to real-world pediatric presentations. chicagospulse.com
After class, use spaced repetition to keep skills fresh. Review respiratory distress patterns (upper vs lower airway), shock categories (hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic, obstructive), and the evaluate-identify-intervene cycle. Keep a dosing card or app handy (double-check your institution’s formulary) and practice mental math using common pediatric weights. If your hospital runs “mock PALS,” volunteer early—there’s no substitute for leading a scenario with time pressure and teammates.
Sign up: PALS — View schedule & register.