COURSE DESCRIPTION

Offers clinical instruction in advanced patient care practice. Clinical 16 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

This course is offered in the fourth semester of the respiratory care program. It is the second part of instruction in the critical care setting with emphasis on intensive respiratory care skills, maintenance of artificial airways, continuous mechanical ventilation, and physiologic monitoring.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES

Prerequisite is RTH 296 – "On-Site Training In" and successful completion of the written and laboratory entrance exams.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate proficiency in:

A. initiation and maintenance of mechanical ventilation

B. proper techniques for arterial puncture and arterial line sampling

C. medical gas therapies for the critical care patient

1. non-invasive monitoring techniques
2. CPAP and/or BiPAP therapies

MAJOR TOPICS TO BE INCLUDED

A. Patient assessment in the critical care setting

B. Mechanical ventilation

C. Weaning parameters

D. Non-invasive monitoring techniques

E. Specialty rotations as assigned