How to Set Up BLS Certification Training for Nursing Staff

Coordinating BLS certification for an entire nursing team can be more complicated than simply finding a class. Nursing managers, clinical leaders, practice managers, and healthcare administrators may need to coordinate different expiration dates, shifts, staffing levels, and certification requirements without taking an entire team away from patient care at once.

The good news is that organizations do not necessarily have to use one training format for every employee. Depending on the organization’s requirements and staffing needs, nursing teams can use a combination of online learning, hands-on skills sessions, individually scheduled appointments, or onsite training options.

Citywide CPR is an American Heart Association Training Center offering BLS certification and renewal options that can help organizations coordinate training for healthcare staff.

How Do You Set Up BLS Certification Training for Nursing Staff?

Start by determining which employees need BLS certification or renewal, checking the specific requirements that apply to your organization, and then choosing a training format that works with your staffing schedule.

A practical process is:

1. Identify the employees who need BLS certification or renewal.
2. Check each employee’s current certification status and expiration date.
3. Confirm the certification requirements established by your employer, facility, school, clinical program, or other applicable organization.
4. Determine whether employees need the complete Online + Skills pathway or only a Skills Only session.
5. Choose whether employees will train individually at Citywide CPR locations or whether onsite training is more appropriate.
6. Coordinate appointments around shifts and staffing needs.
7. Track completion and certification documentation after employees successfully complete the applicable requirements.

This approach can be particularly useful when a nursing team has employees whose certifications expire at different times.

What Should a Nursing Manager Do Before Scheduling BLS Training?

Before registering employees, create a simple list showing who needs training, what pathway applies, and when each person’s certification expires.

A basic tracking sheet might include:

The purpose is not to create a complicated compliance system. It simply gives the person coordinating training a clear picture of the team’s needs before appointments are scheduled.

Organizations should also verify their own requirements rather than assuming that every employee must follow exactly the same certification pathway.

Should Nursing Staff Complete BLS Training Together?

Not necessarily. The best scheduling approach depends on the organization’s staffing needs and the requirements applicable to its employees.

A nursing team could coordinate a group training session when taking multiple employees through training together makes sense.

However, individual scheduling may be more practical when:

• Employees work different shifts.
• The organization cannot remove the entire team from the schedule.
• Employees have different certification expiration dates.
• Some employees have already completed applicable online coursework.
• Staffing levels make a single group session difficult.
• The organization wants employees to complete training at different times.

For those situations, flexible scheduling can help reduce the need to coordinate every employee around one calendar date.

How Does BLS Online + Skills Work for Nursing Staff?

BLS Online + Skills combines the applicable American Heart Association online coursework with the required hands-on skills component.

For employees who need the complete BLS certification pathway, the process generally involves:

1. Completing the applicable AHA HeartCode BLS online coursework.
2. Scheduling the required hands-on skills session.
3. Completing the required skills successfully.
4. Receiving the applicable AHA BLS eCard after successful completion and processing.

Citywide CPR provides BLS certification through this type of blended-learning pathway, allowing the online portion to be completed before the hands-on session. Citywide CPR

For nurses and nursing teams, this can separate the online learning portion from the hands-on appointment rather than requiring all course components to occur in one traditional classroom session.

Can Nursing Staff Schedule Their BLS Skills Sessions Individually?

Yes, where the applicable Citywide CPR training option is available, employees can schedule their hands-on skills sessions individually rather than necessarily attending one large team session.

Citywide CPR’s BLS program offers Online + Skills and Skills Only pathways, with hands-on skills sessions available through its Self-Guided Learning model. Citywide CPR

This can be useful for nursing teams because employees may be able to schedule around different shifts, clinical responsibilities, and expiration dates.

A nursing manager does not necessarily have to find one date when every employee is available.

What Is BLS Skills Only?

BLS Skills Only is intended for someone who has already completed the applicable AHA HeartCode BLS online course and now needs the required hands-on skills portion.

This distinction is important when coordinating a nursing team.

An employee who has an existing or previously issued BLS eCard should not automatically assume that the card itself qualifies them for a Skills Only registration. The Skills Only pathway requires completion of the applicable current HeartCode BLS online coursework.

If an employee has not completed the required online coursework, the Online + Skills pathway may be the appropriate option instead.

Citywide CPR’s BLS certification information distinguishes these two pathways based on whether the learner has already completed the applicable HeartCode online course. Citywide CPR

What Happens During a Self-Guided BLS Skills Session?

A Self-Guided Skills Session is the hands-on portion of the applicable training completed at a Citywide CPR CPR Verification Station™ learning center using technology that provides real-time feedback.

Instead of requiring a traditional classroom instructor to stand beside every participant, the technology-guided session provides instructions and feedback while the participant completes the required hands-on skills.

For eligible BLS participants, the session can include required CPR and related skills rather than being an online-only experience.

Citywide CPR describes its BLS pathway as online learning followed by a hands-on skills session, with the skills portion completed using a voice-assisted manikin and real-time feedback. Citywide CPR

For a nursing manager, the practical advantage is scheduling flexibility: individual employees can complete their skills sessions at different times when that better fits the organization’s staffing plan.

What If We Need Onsite BLS Training for Nursing Staff?

Organizations that prefer to keep employees at the workplace can explore onsite BLS and staff-training options with Citywide CPR.

Onsite training can be useful when an organization wants to coordinate training around its own workplace schedule rather than sending employees individually to an outside location.

Citywide CPR’s onsite training program includes BLS among its available organizational training options and also describes portable RQI-P GO technology for bringing applicable CPR skills verification to a workplace. Citywide CPR

For organizations considering this approach, the appropriate solution depends on the training needed, organization, location, and scheduling requirements.

Onsite BLS training for nursing staff

How Can an Organization Minimize Time Away From Nursing Shifts?

The key is to avoid treating every employee’s certification as though it has to be completed in exactly the same way and at exactly the same time.

A nursing organization can consider:

Staggering Individual Skills Appointments

Employees can complete applicable online learning and schedule hands-on skills sessions individually when that option is appropriate.

This may allow a manager to send one or two employees at a time rather than removing an entire nursing team from the schedule.

Scheduling Around Expiration Dates

Instead of waiting until several employees are about to expire at once, managers can track expiration dates and plan training appointments throughout the year.

This can make certification management more predictable.

Using Onsite Training When Appropriate

If employee travel is particularly difficult, an organization can ask about onsite options that bring applicable training or skills verification closer to the staff.

The right approach depends on the organization’s staffing model and training requirements.

What About ACLS and PALS for Nursing Staff?

Some healthcare organizations have employees who also need ACLS or PALS, but certification requirements vary by role, employer, facility, and other applicable requirements.

A nursing manager should verify which certifications apply to each employee instead of assuming that every member of the team needs the same combination.

Citywide CPR offers AHA BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification and renewal pathways. Its course library identifies BLS, ACLS, and PALS as separate certification programs with Online + Skills and Skills Only options where applicable. Citywide CPR

For employees who need additional certification, managers can review the applicable ACLS and PALS resources as part of their overall staff-training plan.

BLS resource: American Heart Association BLS certification and renewal

PALS resource: American Heart Association PALS certification

How Should a Nursing Team Track BLS Certification and Renewal?

A simple certification tracker can help an organization identify upcoming expirations before they become a scheduling problem.

Useful information to track includes:

• Employee name
• Department or role
• BLS certification date
• BLS expiration date
• Online coursework status
• Skills session date
• Completion status
• AHA eCard documentation

For larger organizations, this information can be maintained as part of the organization’s existing employee training or credentialing process.

The important point is consistency. A manager should know who is current, who is approaching expiration, and which employees still need to complete a required training component.

What If Some Employees Are Renewing and Others Are Getting Certified for the First Time?

Employees do not necessarily have to follow the same registration pathway simply because they work for the same organization.

For example:

• An employee who needs the complete BLS pathway may use Online + Skills.
• An employee who has already completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online coursework may use Skills Only.
• An organization may choose onsite training when keeping employees at the workplace is more practical.
• Employees with different schedules may use individually scheduled skills appointments when available.

This allows the training plan to reflect the actual needs of the nursing team rather than forcing every employee into the same pathway.

How Can I Set Up BLS Certification Training for My Nursing Staff?

Start by contacting Citywide CPR with the number of employees who need BLS certification or renewal, the type of training you are considering, and any scheduling considerations your organization has.

Citywide CPR can help organizations explore available staff-training approaches, including onsite training and flexible individual certification options.

Step 1 — Identify Your Staff

Determine which employees need initial certification and which employees are renewing.

Step 2 — Verify Requirements

Confirm the certification requirements applicable to your organization, employees, facility, school, or clinical program.

Step 3 — Choose the Training Approach

Determine whether your organization prefers:

• Individually scheduled training
• Group training
• Onsite training
• A combination of approaches

Step 4 — Coordinate the Schedule

Plan appointments around shifts, staffing requirements, and certification expiration dates.

Step 5 — Track Completion

Keep the applicable completion documentation and update your organization’s certification records.

Need BLS Training for Your Nursing Staff?

If you are responsible for coordinating BLS certification or renewal for a nursing team, Citywide CPR can help you explore an approach that fits your organization’s staffing needs.

Whether employees need individually scheduled skills sessions or your organization wants to explore onsite CPR training for staff, the first step is determining which certification pathway and scheduling model fit your team.

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Frequently Asked Questions About BLS Certification Training for Nursing Staff

How do I set up BLS certification training for nursing staff?

Start by identifying which employees need BLS certification or renewal, confirming the applicable requirements, and choosing a training format that works with your staffing schedule. Organizations can explore individually scheduled skills sessions, group training, or onsite options.

Can nursing staff complete BLS certification individually?

Yes. Where available and appropriate, employees can complete the applicable online coursework and schedule their hands-on skills sessions individually. This can be useful when employees work different shifts or have different expiration dates.

Can nursing staff complete BLS training onsite?

Organizations can contact Citywide CPR about onsite BLS training options. Availability and the appropriate training approach depend on the organization’s needs and circumstances.

Can employees complete BLS at different times?

Yes. Individual scheduling can be useful when a nursing team cannot leave the workplace at the same time. Employees may be able to complete their training around their individual schedules when the applicable Citywide CPR option is available.

What is the difference between BLS Online + Skills and Skills Only?

Online + Skills includes the applicable AHA HeartCode BLS online coursework and the required hands-on skills component. Skills Only is for participants who have already completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online coursework and only need the hands-on skills portion. Citywide CPR

Can BLS renewal be coordinated for an entire nursing team?

Yes. An organization can coordinate renewal by tracking employee expiration dates and choosing a scheduling model that fits its staffing needs. Depending on the circumstances, employees may train individually or the organization may explore group or onsite options.

Do all nursing staff need the same BLS, ACLS, or PALS certifications?

Not necessarily. Certification requirements can vary according to an employee’s role, employer, facility, program, and other applicable requirements. Organizations should verify the specific requirements that apply to each employee.

What happens after an employee completes the required BLS training?

After the applicable course components and required hands-on skills are successfully completed, the participant receives the applicable American Heart Association BLS Provider eCard according to the current processing procedure. Citywide CPR’s BLS program states that its official AHA BLS Provider eCard is issued after successful completion. Citywide CPR