Revised 8/2026

RTH 151 - Fundamental Clinical Procedures I (3 CR.)

Course Description

Offers clinical instruction in basic patient care practices. Lecture 2 hours. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 5 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

Presents theory and techniques used for assessing patients with cardiopulmonary disease, communication skills in conducting patient interviews, and introduces the students to oxygen therapy, humidification devices, Hyper expansion therapy, positive airway pressure (PAP) and positive expiratory pressure (PEP) devices and their use.  It is offered in the first semester of the program.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisites: BIO 141 and BIO 142, or BIO 145. ENG 111, HLT 141, , MTH 154, RTH 120 and SDV 100 or SDV 101.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

• Perform patient assessment techniques and isolation procedures essential to the practice of respiratory therapy
• Evaluate data in the patient record   
• Demonstrate basic diagnostic procedures in patient assessment
• Management of devices and patient safety procedures
• Identify the proper procedure of infection control and disposing of the hazardous material
• Write a SOAP note
• Describe proper storage and transport of medical gases
• Demonstrate proper use of regulators for gas cylinders
• Explain the principles of and demonstrate the use of medical gas storage and delivery systems
• Explain the principles of and demonstrate the use of the low flow and high flow oxygen administration devices.
• Explain the principles of and demonstrate the use of humidity and aerosol and generators
• Relate specific gas laws and physical principles to pulmonary physiology and respiratory therapy interventions
• Explain the principles of and demonstrate the uses of aerosol therapy devices used in the delivery of medications
• Explain the principles of and demonstrate the use of suction systems
• Explain the principles of and demonstrate the uses of airway clearance techniques
• Explain the principles of and demonstrate the uses of lung expansion devices
• Apply effective communication skills in conducting a patient interview 

Major Topics to Be Included

• Patient Assessment and Documentation
• Infection Control and Patient Safety
• Medical Gas Storage and Delivery Systems
• Oxygen Therapy Devices
• Humidity and Aerosol Therapy
• Respiratory Care Equipment and Airway Management
• Airway Clearance and Lung Expansion Therapies
• Gas Laws and Respiratory Care Applications
• Patient Communication and Interview Skills