COURSE DESCRIPTION

Explores the current issues and trends affecting the profession of respiratory care. Lecture 3 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

This course is offered in the fifth and final semester of the respiratory care A.A.S. degree. The purpose of the course is to make the student aware of current issues and to introduce new technological trends affecting the field of respiratory care.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES

This is an advanced level class for the respiratory therapy student. The student is expected to have completed all RTH and support coursework in the first four semesters of the program or obtain permission of the program head.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

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

A. apply ACLS, PALS, and NRP protocols to clinical scenarios

B. interpret and measure clinical data from advanced cardiopulmonary function tests

C. interpret basic sleep study findings

D. describe and observe basic phlebotomy techniques

E. describe/observe the role of a respiratory therapist in assisting a physician performance of special procedures

A. ACLS/PALS and NRP algorithms

B. Interpret and measure clinical data from the following pulmonary function tests

1. lung volumes and diffusion studies
2. cardiopulmonary stress testing
3. airway resistance
4. indirect calorimetry

C. Sleep studies

D. Phlebotomy

E. Assisting the physician in the following areas

1. bronchoscopy
2. thoracentesis
3. transtracheal aspiration
4. tracheostomy
5. percutaneous needle biopsies
6. cardioversion
8. chest tub insertion
9. insertion of vascular lines for invasive monitoring
10. conscious sedation