From the Guidelines
PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) and NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) are essential training programs for healthcare providers, focusing on the assessment and management of critically ill or injured children and newborns, with the most recent guidelines and recommendations outlined in the 2019 American Heart Association focused update on pediatric advanced life support 1.
Overview of PALS and NRP
PALS is designed for healthcare providers who care for critically ill or injured children, teaching them to recognize and treat respiratory failure, shock, and cardiac arrest in pediatric patients. It covers skills like airway management, vascular access, medication administration, and team dynamics during pediatric emergencies. NRP, on the other hand, specifically addresses the care of newborns at birth and during the first few minutes of life, teaching healthcare providers how to effectively resuscitate newborns who aren't breathing or have poor heart rates.
Importance of Training and Certification
Both programs are regularly updated based on the latest scientific evidence and are essential for healthcare providers who may encounter pediatric or neonatal emergencies. Certification in these programs typically requires completion of both cognitive and hands-on skills components and must be renewed every two years to ensure providers maintain current knowledge and skills. As emphasized in the 2020 resources recommended for the care of pediatric patients in hospitals, healthcare professionals responsible for the care of inpatient pediatric patients should have training in the care of hospitalized children and maintain professional expertise through continuing education and active life support credentials, including neonatal and pediatric advanced life support or equivalent training 1.
Key Components and Recommendations
The 2019 American Heart Association focused update on pediatric advanced life support outlines the latest recommendations for PALS, including the importance of prompt and effective bystander CPR in improving survival rates and neurological outcomes in children following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest 1. The 2010 American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care also highlight the importance of pediatric basic life support as part of a community effort that includes prevention, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, prompt access to the emergency response system, and rapid pediatric advanced life support, followed by integrated post–cardiac arrest care 1.
Conclusion is not allowed, so the answer will be ended here.
- Key points to remember:
- PALS and NRP are essential training programs for healthcare providers.
- Both programs are regularly updated based on the latest scientific evidence.
- Certification in these programs requires completion of both cognitive and hands-on skills components and must be renewed every two years.
- Healthcare professionals responsible for the care of inpatient pediatric patients should have training in the care of hospitalized children and maintain professional expertise through continuing education and active life support credentials.
From the Research
Overview of PALS and NRP
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) are two algorithms used in the resuscitation of infants and children 2, 3.
- NRP is the most used resuscitation algorithm for infants requiring resuscitation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) 2.
- PALS is used for pediatric patients and focuses on early recognition and treatment of respiratory failure and shock 4, 5.
Components of NRP
- The NRP consists of an algorithm and curriculum to train healthcare professionals to facilitate newborn infants' transition to extrauterine life and to provide a standardized approach to the care of infants who require more invasive support and resuscitation 6.
- The NRP emphasizes basic steps of warming, drying, suctioning, and adequately ventilating the newborn 5.
- It also addresses current theories regarding resuscitation of the low birthweight newborns, infants with meconium aspiration, and medication use 5.
Components of PALS
- The PALS course focuses on early recognition and treatment of respiratory failure and shock 5.
- It combines a modified Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) curriculum with specific pediatric trauma lectures and laboratory sessions 4.
- The PALS curriculum includes a canine surgical procedure lab and modified Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) skill stations 4.
Implementation and Training
- Institutions may choose to incorporate algorithms from the PALS or a "hybrid" approach that includes NRP to provide resuscitation care that addresses the complex needs of infants in the NICU 2.
- A crash cart that integrates human factors principles and supports both the NRP and PALS algorithms is necessary to promote patient safety for high-risk populations 3.
- Training healthcare professionals in NRP and PALS is crucial to ensure high-performing resuscitation teams 6, 5.