Any medical people done EPALS?

[Toddlerteaplease]

European Advanced Paediatric life support. Booked on it tomorrow and bricking it! I've read the book. But as I work in a large children's hospital with PICU and an out reach team it's not something we really have to do. Any advice?

Hello, I’m booked onto my epals on Saturday and I am extremely nervous!

How did you find the course? was it as bad as you thought it would be?

It wasn't as bad, as I thought. But you must read the book throughly. Remember ABCDE. Rinse and repeat. Most of it was irrelevant, for a band 5 nurse in a Children's hospital with A PICU and outreach team. But useful if you work in a DGH. The multiple choice test is hard. Read the questions very carefully as the answers are very similar. I scraped a pass.

Thank you for your reply! I work in DGH as a band 5 and already the book has opened my eyes 😅 I have 5 days to learn and remember the whole book but hopefully I have enough time! I had a feeling the multiple choice questions would be difficult so trying to learn all the irrelevant stuff I think they will ask 😅 I’ll just be thankful if I pass right now 😅

You have to log on and do a test before you look at the book. The course is basically revision. Some bits are definitely more doctor oriented though. There was quite a variety of people on mine. So it was food. Also very reassuring to see members of our resuscitation team!

You will have acres to the chart with drug doses, fluid volumes etc. so don't worry about learning them too much.

My partner is a band 7 paramedic and really enjoyed it :)

@Bluelightbaby it wood be more relevant for him!

Ah that’s really useful thank you! I’ll make sure i’ll do the test now then 😅! I’m just imagining the practical exams being more like OSCE’s we did in university 😅

They are similar to what you do on PILS.

Hi

I am doing my EPALs this week!! Bricking it is an understatement!!! 😓 any advice please to a nervous nurse. I work as a b6 in DGH paediatric ward. Never done EPALS before

Any advice? I’m terrified! Coming up this week

Read the book - everything you need to know is there.
Always call for help
you can’t move on from A to B to C etc until each step resolve. If in doubt reassess from the beginning again
Enjoy!

ABCDE, rinse and repeat. Read the MCQ questions carefully as there may only be tiny difference in the answers. A year since I did mine. Some of my colleagues are doing it this week and are really stressed about it. I don't envy them. Good luck! I think it's of more use if you work in a DGH. We are so well protected and supported by PICU and the out reach team, I've never needed it.

Thank you for your advice!
im mainly worried about reading ecgs. Its not something I’ve ever had to do in my role and i just can’t get my head around it.
do i need to be able to read ecgs or just recognise a shockable/non shockable rhythms? Thank you

@Star1616 I was worried about the same thing. But they taught us the difference. And I understood it. However I did my Pils this week, and had completely forgotten it!! It's bit a skill I'm ever likely to need.

Remembering Very fussy for VF and very Tidy for VT really helped me!

Oh amazing that’s so helpful! I remember things so much easier using things like this. Thank you!!

Are you doing it at Kingsmill hospital by any chance? @Star1616 a few of my colleagues are doing there. And equally stressed!

Kings in London! I feel sooo worried about it I just want it out the way now!