Butte College

Course Outline

2026-2027 Catalog

RT 165 - Respiratory Care Practicum II

Catalog Description

Transfer Status
NT
Prerequisite
RT 155
Corequisite
RT 160
Unit(s)
8.00
  • Lab: 408.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/408.00 Total hours/8.00 Unit(s)
  • Total: 408.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/408.00 Total hours/8.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course supports the continuing practice and evaluation of skills for advanced respiratory care students in the hospital setting. Development of skills pertaining to the organization and completion of patient care assignments in both the medical-surgical and critical care environments are emphasized. American Heart Association (AHA) Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support certifications are incorporated in the course, as these are required for employment in Respiratory Care.

Objectives

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

  1. Employ effective communication skills as they pertain to patient interaction and education of the patient.
  2. Employ basic patient triage skills in the clinical setting, under the guidance of a licensed respiratory care practitioner.
  3. Apply the skills learned in previous clinical courses in the treatment of critically ill patients, under the guidance of a licensed respiratory care practitioner.
  4. Apply the patient assessment skills learned in previous clinical courses in the treatment of critically ill patients, under the guidance of a licensed respiratory care practitioner.
  5. Demonstrate the skills and knowledge consistent with the American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification.

Course Content

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lab

Lab topics and suggested hours
TopicsLab Hrs

AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support 

16.00

AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support

16.00

Introduction to Sub-acute SNF/Rehabilitation hospitals

8.00

Respiratory care of the pre-surgical patient

46.00

Respiratory care of the post-surgical patient

46.00

Specialized care of the thoracic surgery patient

46.00

Respiratory care of the medical-surgical floor patient

46.00

Post trauma respiratory care

46.00

Respiratory care of the medical-surgical intensive care patient

46.00

Pediatric/perinatal respiratory care

46.00

Respiratory emergencies

46.00
Total Hours:408.00

Methods of Instruction

  1. Field Experience/Internship
  2. Problem-Solving Sessions
  3. Reading Assignments

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Practical Evaluations
  2. Clinical Simulation Assignment

Examples of Assignments

Reading Assignments

  1. Review your assigned patients' charts to gather the required information needed to accurately present your patients' current conditions to the physicians and other health care professionals (HCP's) in intensive care unit (ICU) grand rounds.
  2. Review the patient's chart prior to treatment delivery for current doctor's order, diagnosis, lab values and chest x-ray results.

Writing Assignments

  1. Complete a Daily Log in Data Arc indicating the amount and type of procedures performed during each clinical shift, physician interactions, and write a narrative on the day's most significant experiences.
  2. Using the Situation/Background/ Assessment/Recommendation (SBAR) format, write out a report for each of your assigned patients to provide the respiratory therapists who are coming on-shift with the necessary patient information.

Out-of-Class Assignments

  1. Not applicable

Recommended Materials of Instruction

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

Minimum Qualifications

Emergency Medical Technologies

Respiratory Technician

Respiratory Technologies