N479 Professional Activity Evaluation Form

Name: Kaitlyn Parks

Date of Activity: October 10, 2015

Faculty Name: Darlene LaCroix

Describe the community service/professional activity you attended or participated with (be
specific about the purpose and your role):
For my professional activity I completed the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
course and certification. This included prep-work and studying for the course, completion of the
ten-hour on-site learning and training session, and successful passing of the American Heart
Association (AHA) PALS exam, thereby allowing me to obtain my certification.
Where was this held and what was program/activity length?
I completed my PALS course and certification at Desert Education Solutions located out
of Scottsdale, AZ. I completed the full initial course, and therefore attending this class for a
total of ten hours.
Discuss the value of this experience to you (be specific).
Completing this course and obtaining my PALS certification was extremely valuable to
both my knowledge, and my marketability, as a future registered nurse. My initial decision to
complete this course was based on my desire to work in a higher acuity setting that may
potentially involve children. By obtaining this licensure prior to graduation, I believe it will
demonstrate my work ethic and drive to potential employers. However, as I began studying for
this course I found myself to learn a tremendous amount of information. I was not previously
aware of many of the advanced life support strategies as they pertain to pediatrics, and I found
myself actually receiving a review of pediatric nursing as a whole. Furthermore, I now feel as
though both my qualifications, and knowledge, are highly increased. I feel much more confident
in my knowledge as I enter the pediatric section of the NCLEX in the upcoming months.

Would you recommend this specific community/professional experience in the future; why
or why not? (Describe)
In completion of this course, I would absolutely recommend this activity to others. I feel
as though it is a worthwhile investment for individuals interested in working in pediatric settings,
and I feel it is equally highly complementary to our knowledge as nursing students. It not only
offered a review of basic pediatric illnesses, but also equally provided a new set of information to
me, thereby increasing my overall knowledge of pediatrics in the critical care setting.
Brochure or proof of attendance obtained? Yes
Signature on validation of clinical hours form obtained? Yes