COPHS Advances Student Readiness with On-Campus AHA BLS Certification for 3rd-Year Nursing Cohort

Ajman University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS) continues to strongly support student development and clinical readiness by providing on-campus American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification training for 3rd-year Nursing students. This mandatory program, aligned with Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) requirements, ensures that students are fully prepared with essential, internationally recognized life-saving skills before entering clinical placements.

The Nursing Department, in collaboration with the Experiential Learning Office, organized structured, hands-on training sessions delivered across multiple dates (June 5, 9, 11, and 12, 2026). The program was conducted in small groups with a strict 1:6 instructor-to-student ratio, in accordance with AHA standards, and in partnership with RPM Dubai Training Academy, an AHA-authorized training provider. The initiative was executed under the supervision of Prof. Abeer AlGhananeem, Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and coordinated by Dr. Deema Hamzeh Mahasneh, Head of the Nursing Department, alongside Dr. Subish Palaian, Coordinator of the Office of Experiential Learning, and Organized Dr. Hosny Maher, Clinical Assistant Professor. Vital support for the practical sessions was provided by clinical training instructors Ms. Hind Alali and Ms. Hanan Almheiri.

Prior to the practical sessions, students completed the required AHA HeartCode® BLS 2025 online module to build foundational knowledge. Only students who successfully completed this pre-course were eligible to attend the on-campus skills sessions, ensuring compliance with AHA and CAA guidelines.

The training included high-fidelity simulations in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) use, and airway obstruction management across adult, pediatric, and infant scenarios. Upon successful completion of both the online and practical components, students were awarded AHA BLS Provider certification valid for two years.

This initiative reflects COPHS’s commitment to fostering student development and ensuring graduates enter clinical practice as confident, competent, and practice-ready healthcare professionals.