While basic life support is a requirement for vaccination certification, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is frequently only taught for those in the hospital setting. However, any healthcare provider can be in a situation where a Code Blue happens and increased understanding of the entire process (beyond basic life support) can significantly enhance a pharmacist’s ability to integrate with the interprofessional team that will care for this patient.

This activity reviews core concepts related to cardiogenic shock management to provide a foundation for more advanced discussion of medications and devices, with particular focus on the role of the pharmacist in managing unique but high-risk mechanical support systems used in this patient population requiring this treatment.

1. Formulate a treatment plan for patients with cardiovascular emergencies utilizing the ACLS algorithms
2. Discuss the role of targeted temperature management (TTM) in cardiac arrest
3. Identify the role of the pharmacy professional on an ACLS team

1. Familiarize common treatment plans for patients with cardiovascular emergencies
2. Define targeted temperature management in cardiac arrest
3. Identify the role of the pharmacy professional on an ACLS team

AchieveCE is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

AchieveCE is also accredited by the Florida Board of Pharmacy (provider no. 50-20641). This course is approved by CE Broker, with CE Broker No. 20-912072.

Andrea Sikora, PharmD, MSCR, BCCCP, FCCMis a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. She is currently a KL2 Scholar funded by the National Institutes of Health and Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and her PGY2 Critical Care Residency at the University of North Carolina Medical Center. Her practice and research interests include optimizing pharmacy practice in critical care, hemodynamics, biomarkers in critical illness, and mentorship.

  Level 2. Basic Application of Skills and Concepts