RT 125 - Introduction to Clinical Respiratory Care

Transfer Status

NT

Prerequisite

RT 115

Corequisite

RT 120

Unit(s)

5.00

• Lab: 255.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/255.00 Total hours/5.00 Unit(s)
• Total: 255.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/255.00 Total hours/5.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of clinical respiratory care as practiced in the acute care hospital. Students will become conversant with bedside examination, monitoring, and care of medical/surgical and respiratory disease patients. Graded only.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriateness of therapy in relation to diagnosis and patient condition, the ability to explain the rationale for specific therapeutic modalities, and how to appropriately educate the patient on each of the above.
2. Describe the hazards/complications associated with arterial blood gas sampling procedures through program testing and competency assessment.
3. Demonstrate selected clinical competencies appropriate to each students experience level, and available clinical patient care.
4. Employ clinical decision making in the care of acute and chronic medical/surgical, and patients with respiratory disorders.
5. Employ basic patient interaction, education, assessment and treatment skills used in bedside respiratory patient care.
6. Distinguish basic principles of health care ethics, as they apply to the respiratory care practitioner (RCP).
7. Demonstrate competency in hand washing, isolation and infection control procedures, vital signs assessment, chest assessment, small volume nebulizer (SVN) therapy, incentive spirometry (IS), pulse oximetry, AccuPAP or EzPAP, mucus clearing adjuncts, and metered dose inhaler (MDI) or dry powder inhaler (DPI).
8. Gather and interpret clinical data from a patient care chart through the correct completion of a written Patient Care Worksheet (PCW).
9. Demonstrate effective patient assessment through the completion and presentation of Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation (SBAR) tool.

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lab

1. Collaborative Group Work
2. Demonstrations
3. Instructor Demonstrations
4. Lecture
5. Problem-Solving Sessions
6. Reading Assignments
7. Bedside administration of procedures to patients with Faculty
   observation and assistance.
   Individual and group discussion
   Written Assignments

1. Quizzes
2. Research Projects
3. Oral Presentation
4. Demonstration
5. Practical Evaluations
6. Hospital staff input regarding student performance

Reading Assignments

1. Review the patient's chart for current doctor's order, diagnosis, lab values and chest x-ray results prior to delivering assigned therapy to be prepared for any contingencies with the patient.
2. Read the provided material on the competencies assigned by your clinical instructor PRIOR to your next scheduled clinical rotation in preparation for competency check offs.

Writing Assignments

1. Utilizing your assigned patient's medical chart, complete a Patient Care Worksheet form.
2. Prepare a disease presentation on the topic provided for you, using guidelines posted in Canvas for this assignment.

Cairo, J.M., Pilbeam, S. (2018). Mosby’s Respiratory Care Equipment. Mosby, 10th.

Wilkins, R. (2020). Egan’s Fundamentals of Respiratory Care. Mosby, 12th.

Wilkins. (2018). Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care. Mosby, 8th.

Corning, H., et al. (2013). Mosby’s Respiratory Care PDQ. Mosby, 2nd.

Other Learning Materials

American Association for Respiratory Care, Clinical Practice Guidelines, at www.aarc.org.

Selected references from medical periodicals

Selected computer assisted instruction programs

Required Equipment:

1. Name Badge

2. Stethoscope

3. Watch with seconds display

4. Approved scrub outfit

5. Working pen and pencil

6. Approved eye protection

7. Bandage scissors

8. Small spiral-bound pocket notebook

Respiratory Technician

Respiratory Technologies