ACLS vs. PALS: What’s the Difference and Which Do You Need?
Understanding ACLS vs PALS can help healthcare professionals determine which advanced life support training is appropriate for their roles. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) focuses on managing cardiac and other cardiopulmonary emergencies in adults, while Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) addresses life-threatening emergencies involving infants and children.
This article explains the key differences between ACLS vs. PALS, including patient age groups, when to use each, which providers need them, and how to determine if you may need both. In the case that you do, the article also discusses ACLS and PALS certification bundle options that allow you to streamline your certification.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Difference Between ACLS and PALS?
- PALS vs. ACLS Age Comparison
- When Should You Use PALS vs. ACLS?
- Who Needs ACLS vs. PALS?
- Do You Need Both ACLS and PALS?
- Find ACLS and PALS Training Online
What Is the Difference Between ACLS and PALS?
As mentioned above, ACLS Training and PALS Training have some important differences. ACLS focuses on healthcare providers who respond to cardiovascular emergencies in adults, including cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, and stroke. For more background on the credential and what it involves, review our ACLS certification definition. PALS focuses on healthcare providers who respond to emergencies involving infants and children, including respiratory emergencies, shock, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.
The following table outlines some similarities and differences between ACLS and PALS training courses:
| ACLS | PALS | |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Population: Adults | Yes | No |
| Patient Population: Infants and Children | No | Yes |
| Chain of Survival | Yes | Yes |
| Cardiac Arrest | Yes | Yes |
| Cardiac Rhythm Interpretation | Yes | Yes |
| Weight-Based Pharmacology | No | Yes |
PALS vs. ACLS Age Comparison
So, what are the age cutoffs for the patient populations covered in PALS vs. ACLS? For the purposes of PALS guidelines, pediatric patients are considered those up to 18 years of age, with a separate definition for newborn infants which range from birth up to 1 year old. Adults, on the other hand, are considered those 18 and older. See the table below outlining the differences in age ranges between ACLS and PALS patient populations.
| Age Range | |
|---|---|
| PALS | Infant: 0 to 1 Children: 1 to 18 |
| ACLS | Adult: 18 and older |
When Should You Use PALS vs. ACLS?
Apart from the age-based criteria, treatment algorithms differ for a PALS sequence versus ACLS sequence. Generally, PALS is designed for specific pediatric situations including pediatric respiratory distress or failure, shock, cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. ACLS, on the other hand, addresses adult cardiac conditions including cardiac arrest, pre-arrest cardiac arrhythmias, defibrillation techniques and post-cardiac arrest care.
PALS focuses more on prevention of cardiac decompensation and arrest while ACLS more commonly expects the encounter and management of cardiac arrest. However, whether you are using ACLS or PALS, both share a commitment to the systematic Chain of Survival and high-quality, uninterrupted cardiopulmonary resuscitation when required.
Who Needs ACLS vs. PALS?
ACLS and PALS training may be appropriate for healthcare professionals in emergency response, intensive care, and other clinical settings. The training needed depends on the patients they treat and the requirements of their employer.
For example, nursing certification and education requirements may vary by position and healthcare facility. The following table highlights common healthcare roles and the training that may be relevant to each.
| Provider | ACLS | PALS |
|---|---|---|
| ER Nurses | Yes | Yes |
| EMTs/Paramedics | Yes | Yes |
| Transport RN's | Yes | Yes |
| Flight RN's | Yes | Yes |
| ICU RN's | Yes | No |
| Adult MD's/NP's/PA's | Yes | No |
| Cath Lab Staff | Yes | No |
| Pediatricians | No | Yes |
| PICU RN's | No | Yes |
| NICU RN's | No | Yes |
Do You Need Both ACLS and PALS?
Are you a provider who needs both ACLS and PALS certifications? While many providers in critical care may only require one, there are many who may require both. Below we list several from the prior table explaining why their role requires both certifications.
- ER Nurses: Providers in emergency room settings require both ACLS and PALS certifications because they are required to treat any person who comes through the door, whether adult or pediatric populations. They may encounter an adult with full-on cardiac arrest and, in the next moment, an infant in respiratory failure.
- EMTs/Paramedics: Similar to ER personnel, EMTs and Paramedics can encounter any type of patient in the field and thus require ACLS and PALS.
- Transport/Flight RN's: ACLS and PALS are two of the many certifications that transport and flight staff need to carry out their roles treating both pediatric and adult patients in the field and peri-hospital areas.
- Other Potential Roles: Some other roles which may require both ACLS and PALS certifications include medical and nursing students in clinical rotations, general practitioners and rural hospital staff in smaller facilities where pediatric and adult units are not separated.
Find ACLS and PALS Training Online
When comparing ACLS vs PALS, the right training depends on your clinical responsibilities, the patients you treat, and your employer's requirements. Just the thought can feel overwhelming but, thankfully, it doesn't have to be! Our site at ACLS Medical Training provides straightforward and 100% online options for healthcare providers to complete their training, including a PALS study guide and bundled courses including our BLS, ACLS and PALS bundle.
Don't wait to obtain these life-saving skills for serving your patients, whether in adult or pediatric populations. Take the next step in obtaining your certification by registering on our site today!
