Essentials for BLS Instructor Success

Essentials for BLS Instructor Success

Being a successful BLS Instructor can mean the difference between training that people remember as opposed to skills that start to diminish over time. Proper training in a BLS class ensures individual are equipped with the skills and knowledge to respond to any emergency situation. It is this response that essentially mean the difference between life and death. The role of the BLS Instructor is to also provide an engaging and interactive learning environment for all class participants.

Bls Instructor Important Tips

• Provide ample time for student practice.
• Develop specific strategies geared toward education and retention which accommodate your own teaching style.
• Implement high-quality training and implementation with the goal to equip professionals with the skills they need to optimize resuscitation efforts.
• Follow American Heart Association protocols and guidelines and develop an instructor checklist to follow when a new BLS Instructor.

Follow A BLS Instructor Checklist

1. Utilize spaced practice: an effective addition to CPR training because it allows for multiple practice sessions at different intervals for increased retention of knowledge and skills. Second, is is also important to include feedback during and debriefing after practice sessions to ensure skills are being correctly followed. Lastly, BLS training programs should also outline clear metrics and assessment tools that ensure mastery of basic skills to improve patient outcomes.
2. Use contextual learning: which places the training into the context of a real-world scope. For example, instructor strategies should include consideration of both the experience and characteristics of class participants and their real-life work environment. Further, while training for healthcare professionals, a BLS instructor may focus more on working as a team, while if conducting training for a laymen rescuer, the BLS Instructor might emphasize the importance of building confidence when initiating CPR as well as making a thorough initial patient or victim assessment.
3. Facilitate debriefing: that allow for communication between instructors and participants which includes communication regarding feedback about performance and opportunities to make adjustments to improve skills. 
4. Assessment of skills: is a critical component of any of BLS instructor skills checklist. A comprehensive assessment process should include knowledge, skills, and integration within various contexts to ensure a thorough understanding of the course material. Assessments between courses can also be helpful in ensuring healthcare professionals are retaining their skills as an integral part of their patient care.

Would you Like to Become a BLS INstructor?

At Help-A-Heart CPR we offer monthly American Heart Association BLS Instructor courses. For additional information on course pre-requisites please review our American Heart Association Instructor Training page which provides important information relative to course costs and materials included in the course.