Revised 8/2026
RTH 196 - RTH 196 - On-Site Training In: Respiratory Care I (3 CR.)
Course Description
Career orientation and training program without pay in selected businesses and industry, supervised and coordinated by the College. Credit/work ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. Clinical work 15 hours per week.
General Course Purpose
This course is the first clinical rotation and is offered in the second semester of the program. This introduction to the clinical setting offers instruction in medical gas administration, humidity therapy, hyperinflation therapies, bronchial hygiene and delivery of aerosol medications.
Course Prerequisites/Corequisites
Prerequisites: RTH 102, RTH 111, RTH 145, and RTH 151.
Course Objectives
Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:
- Perform and document various aspects of patient assessment skills and techniques to accurately determine patients’ clinical status
- Identify, describe the operational therapy of and demonstrate the correct technique for patient application of all the oxygen therapy devices
- Administer humidification, aerosol, lung inflation, and airway clearance therapies including patient instructions and the results of the therapies
- Perform medication administration according to hospital protocol while demonstrating proficiency with different available aerosol medication delivery systems
- Identify the indications, contraindications, and hazards of various respiratory therapies
- Apply various safety index systems employed in the use of compressed gas cylinders and bulk systems
- Describe the type, structure, and demonstrate the proper use of compressed gas regulators
- Describe various flow meters and demonstrate their usage
- Determine and recommend a patient care plan by using clinical resources that include medical records, other health care providers, patient, patient care protocols etc
- Locate and interpret physicians’ orders for respiratory care
- Modify patient care plan and perform troubleshooting according to patient clinical status
- Develop good communication skills with patients and health care team
- Apply professional behavior and maintain patient confidentiality consistently
- Demonstrate appropriate standards of appearance and attendance as defined by the RTH student and clinical handbook
- Develop excellent time management skills and complete all required course work in a timely manner
Major Topics to Be Included
- Patient assessment and history
- Medical gas storage and delivery systems
- Oxygen administration devices and analyzers
- Humidifiers and aerosol generators
- Hyperexpansion and positive expiratory pressure therapy