TL/DR: Great instructors; most have worked as firefighters or other first responders. They also…read moretext you when your current certification is about to expire. Really high quality course, transparent pricing and easy to schedule. You don't want to waste your time with other places offering classes for cheaper in Louisville. Trust me.
I used to be an American Heart Association, BLS (Basic Life Support) & HeartSaver Instructor. I taught the course regularly to new employees and folks needing recertification. Then, I transitioned into a marketing role, stopped training so regularly and (stupidly) allowed my certification to lapse.
Flash forward to early 2021. The pandemic reminded me that I loved being in the trenches and missed direct care with patients. I decided to go back to school for nursing and applied to work at a hospital as a patient care assistant. Every Healthcare system I can think of pays you to keep your BLS or ACLS updated once you're an established employee ... but (probably due to the high cost of training, and high turnover in healthcare), many require you to have your own certification prior to employment. That was the case with me. I got offered the job, and I needed to find a class, quickly.
If you know me, well, you know I'm frugal. I love a good deal. I was annoyed that I could've paid the five dollars to keep my certification, but now was staring down around $90 out of pocket, and for something I used to teach. (palm to face emoji).
I called just about every place the internet and Yelp said taught CPR in Louisville, to price compare. Many people suggest the fire department, but give them a try, and you'll see that they are so busy training their own recruits, they rarely have time for community classes. I found some place that claimed to be over in jeffersonville, but I couldn't find the storefront, and they stopped returning my phone calls. Very shady. Another place on Bardstown Rd gave me hope. They had me do the online certification, then schedule the skill out with them. Joke was on me. My Scout got canceled due to Covid, and they refused to give me a refund when they offered a new date, two weeks past my hospital start date. So, I circled back to this other company, CPR Louisville.
To be 100% honest, I wish I had just gone with them from jump. Yes, the price of the class was a tad higher than their competitors advertised, but as you just read you get what you pay for.
The CPR Louisville's website is extremely transparent and easy to navigate. They tell you exactly what class is offered when, and don't make you call or guess what the cost is. I needed a class ASAP, so I scheduled for an in person Saturday morning and left the same day with my certification card.
The location was easy to find. Parking was free and safe. Class started on time. All materials were provided. Each participant had their own mannequin and equipment to practice with. They go in depth, and have a deeper sense of critical thinking and real life application then your every day instructor, because most of them either work currently, or have experience as firefighters, EMS, or other first responders.
They guarantee that you will pass the class. If you're struggling, they will work with you until you get it. You'll leave the same day with the code to claim your card via the American Heart Association website.
Lastly, they offered two extra things that I think set them apart.
1) go to the website and you'll notice they sometimes offer enrollment specials/discounts.
2) they track your certification and text you when your certification is nearing expiration.
Now that I'm back working bedside, my hospital provides my biannual recertification, so I don't need their services anymore. But, I recommend them to friends and nursing students so often that I decided it was probably time to write a review. Five stars, for sure.
