PEARS - Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization

The American Heart Association (AHA) offers the Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS) course to teach students a systematic approach to assessing and recognizing causes of pediatric emergencies, and stabilizing pediatric patients during respiratory, cardiopulmonary arrest, or shock emergencies before transferring the patient to an advanced provider. Course materials reflect the 2015 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC.

PEARS courses provide knowledge to doctors, nurses, physician assistants, EMTs, respiratory therapists, healthcare providers outside of critical care, outpatient healthcare providers, school providers, and other healthcare professionals who don’t frequently assess or treat critically ill or injured infants and children.

Costs

Costs varies, but typically range between $100 and $250.

PEARS is interactive with realistic simulations and animations in an instructor-led classroom environment. Instructors teach skills in large-group sessions and small-group learning and testing stations where course videos present case-based scenarios. Students must actively participate in real patient case discussions, respiratory breathing skills stations, and cardiac arrest case simulations. They also learn systematic pediatric assessment and Resuscitation team concepts.

PEARS Prerequisites

Participants taking the PEARS course must have child and infant Basic Life Support (BLS) skills, including the abilities to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Course Completion Requirements

• Active participation in case discussions, rescue breathing skills station, and cardiac arrest case simulations

• Pass skills tests in one-rescuer and two-rescuer infant BLS

• Pass skills tests in one-rescuer and two-rescuer child BLS with AED

• Pass the video-based written exam with a score of at least 84%

Estimated Course Completion Times:

The PEARS course follows the ratio of 6 participants to 1 instructor for 1 manikin or station. However, the CPR station requires 1 instructor and 2 manikins for 6 participants per station. The estimated completion time of a PEARS course are approximately:

• 9 hours with breaks

• 7 hours 45 minutes without breaks with optional lessons

• 7 hours 10 minutes without breaks without optional lessons

Following completion of all required activities and demonstration of sufficient knowledge and skill, candidates receive an AHA PEARS Provider Course completion card, valid for two years. They receive a paper completion card and may purchase an eCard for $6.35. Candidates may print eCards as a full-page or wallet-sized card.

PEARS completion cards are valid for two years and must be renewed to maintain qualification as a PEARS provider. To renew a PEARS Provider card, candidates must:

• Register for and attend a six-hour renewal course before the expiration date listed on current completion card

• Have a current PEARS Provider Manual

Renewal Cost Range: $80 to $180

PEARS is currently approved for Continuing Education Accreditation—Emergency Medical Services.  The Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) accredits the AHA to approve PEARS provider education for 7.25 Advanced Continuing Education Hours for EMS personnel under activity number 17-AMHA-F2-0024. However, some state nursing boards count PEARS training and other life support courses toward they’re required CE hours.

Student Materials

• PEARS Provider Manual: $40.80

• PEARS Provider Manual eBook: $40.80

• PEARS Pocket Reference Card: $12.25

• PEARS Digital Reference Card: $10.35

• PEARS Provider Manual eBook in Spanish: $40.55

Candidates who are interested in the PEARS certification may also complete the following related courses or certifications:

• Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) is a specialty accreditation for RNs with a diploma, associate's degree, BSN, MSN, or a higher nursing degree

• The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) introduces basic skills required for neonatal resuscitation

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) providers recognize and intervene during respiratory emergency, shock, or cardiopulmonary arrest in pediatric patients

• CCRN (Pediatric) and CCRN (Neonatal) certifications accredit nurses who provide direct care to directly/critically ill pediatrics or neonatal patients

• CCRN-K (Pediatric) and CCRN-K (Neonatal) certifies nurses influencing the care delivered to acutely/critically ill pediatrics or neonatal patients but don’t provide direct patient care

• CCNS (Pediatric) accreditation recognizes clinical nurse specialists (CNS) specializing in caring for acutely/critically ill pediatric patients

• CCNS (Neonatal) accreditation recognizes clinical nurse specialists (CNS) who specialize in caring for acutely/critically ill neonatal patients

• Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC) accredits master’s or DNP level primary care pediatric nurse practitioners

• Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-AC) certifies acute care pediatric nurse practitioners, with a master’s, DNP, or postgraduate certificate

• ACCNS-P (Pediatric) is an entry-level advanced practice accreditation for clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) providing advanced nursing care to pediatric patients

• Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS) certification recognizes eligible Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) in the early identification and intervention of infants and children with mental and behavioral issues

• Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood pressure, Lab work, and Emotional support (STABLE) neonatal education focuses on post-resuscitation or pre-transport stabilization