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Newborn Life Support (NLS)

Newborn Life Support (NLS)

The Resuscitation Council (UK) Newborn Life Support (NLS) course was launched in 1999 and is a standardised national course providing clear practical instruction in airway support and the theoretical background to illustrate its importance in resuscitation of the newborn.

The NLS course has the support of professional bodies from a number of relevant disciplines.

Who is this course suitable for?
The NLS course is designed for any healthcare professional involved in the delivery and care of the newborn infant. This includes both junior and senior medical and nursing staff, midwives, paramedics and resuscitation officers. All applicants must hold a professional healthcare qualification or be in training for a professional healthcare qualification.

Learning outcomes

  • The NLS course teaches the knowledge and skills required to:
    approach the management of a newborn infant during the first 10-20 minutes in a competent manner
  • Understand the processes underlying apnoea, bradycardia and poor condition at birth
  • Deliver practical airway management and ventilatory support

Course structure
NLS courses are held at centres throughout the United Kingdom and are approved and certificated by the Resuscitation Council (UK). This ensures uniformity of content and standard regardless of the course centre.

The course is run over one day. All candidates will be registered on the Learning Management System (LMS) to access the pre-course multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ), course evaluation and post course certificates.

The course programme consists of lectures, skill stations and teaching simulations.

Assessment and Certification

There are two assessment components on the NLS course:

  1. Airway test – candidates will need to demonstrate the core skills of airway management of a newborn infant and show what steps to take if initial attempts at management are unsuccessful, both when alone and when working as part of a team.
    MCQ
  2. Successful candidates receive a Resuscitation Council (UK) NLS provider certificate, which is valid for 4 years. NLS Providers can only re-certify by attending a full NLS provider course. The NLS course is recognised for 5 continuing professional development (CPD) points.

Pre-course preparation

The course manual is sent to candidates one month before the course. Candidates are expected to have prepared for the course by reading the manual and submitting their completed pre-course MCQ paper before attending the face-to-face course. Candidates are advised to complete the pre-course MCQ without reference to the manual.

Course Duration - 1 days (plus pre-course learning MCQ and manual)

Course cost - £210

Method of Assessment 

  • Pre-course MCQ
  • Continuing assessment throughout course
  • End of course MCQ
  • End of course scenario