ACLS, MCE and CIW Comparison
The Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Provider course is a two day workshop developed by the American Heart Association and sanctioned in Canada by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
The Managing Cardiac Emergencies (MCE) workshop includes content of an ACLS provider course that is specific to the target group: critical care nurses. Student evaluation focuses upon the application of skills.
The Critical Intervention Workshop (CIW) delivers the latest on the most likely medical emergencies, focusing upon emergency response principles and skills for non-critical care nurses.
| Topic | ACLS Provider |
MCE |
CIW |
| Basic Life Support Review | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Code Blue Cart Review | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Bag-Valve Mask / Oral Airway | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Endotracheal Intubation | Y |
Assist |
Assist |
| Laryngeal Mask Airway | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Combitube Airway | Y |
N |
N |
| Monitor-Defibrillator Review | Y |
Y |
N |
| Defibrillation | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Automated External Defibrillator (AED) | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Cardioversion | Y |
Y |
N |
| Transcutaneous Pacing | Y |
Y |
N |
| Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology Review | N |
Option |
Y |
| ECG Review | Option |
Option |
N |
| Acute Coronary Syndromes | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Managing a Patient in Shock | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Pulmonary Edema | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Electrolyte Imbalance Management | Option |
N |
Y |
| Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA/Stroke) | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Stable Tachycardias | Y |
Y |
N |
| Unstable Tachycardias | Y |
Y |
Theory |
| Unstable Bradycardias | Y |
Y |
Theory |
| Pulseless Vtach/VFib | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Pulseless Electrical Activity | Y |
Y |
Theory |
| Asystole | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Managing the Unconscious Patient | N |
N |
Y |
| Calling for the Code Blue | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Room Preparation for a Code Blue | N |
N |
Y |
| Practical Skill Evaluation | Y |
Y |
Y |
| Written Test | Y |
N |
N |