Respiratory Care Course Descriptions

Provides theoretical knowledge and practical application of basic patient care, proper hospital decorum, organization and management of a respiratory care department, professional ethics and issues. Principles and procedures include medical gas delivery systems and related technology, aerosol therapy, medical records, oxygen analysis, chest physical therapy, and basic blood gas interpretation. Pathological conditions requiring the aforementioned therapeutic modalities also are addressed. Laboratory practicums include auscultation, patient body mechanics and positioning, basic physical assessment, sphygmomanometry, cylinders and piping systems, regulators and flow meters, O2 therapy, aerosol therapy, pulse oximetry, bedside spirometry, computer applications in Respiratory Care, and aerosol/humidity generators. Class hrs. 5; Lab hrs. 4. Corequisite: RESP 141 Clinical Experience I. Offered fall semester.

The principles of infection control and equipment decontamination, advanced patient assessment. Coverage of indications, contraindications, hazards, precautions, rationale and techniques of IPPB, and incentive spirometry. Introduction to continuous mechanical ventilation and basic monitoring of the patient on a ventilator. Certification in BLS-C, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is accomplished in this course as well. The last section of the course encompasses the utilization of all artificial airways including types, insertion, maintenance, complications, removal, and after care. Laboratory practicums include administration of IPPB treatments, incentive spirometry treatments, decontamination, re-assembly and packaging of equipment, and isolation procedures. Assembly of mechanical ventilators, mannequin performance of infant, child, and adult CPR/FBAO, insertion of artificial airways, tracheal aspiration, cuff management, and manual ventilation. The student is also introduced to fiberoptic bronchoscopy. May be taken for Honors. Class hrs. 5; Lab hrs. 4. Prerequisites: RESP 101A Respiratory Care I and RESP 141 Clinical Experience I. Corequisites: RESP 104 Lab and RESP 143 Clinical II. Offered spring semester.

Initial hospital introduction and application of material covered in Respiratory Care I. Clinical Education is provided by credentialed, college, clinical faculty. Evaluations include the cognitive, psycho-motor, and affective domains. Total hrs. 75. Corequisite: RESP 101A Respiratory Care I. Offered fall semester.

Application of theory and practice of material covered in Respiratory Care I & II. Clinical education is provided by credentialed, college, clinical faculty. Evaluations include the cognitive, psycho-motor, and affective domains. Total hrs. 120. Corequisite: RESP 103A Respiratory Care II. Prerequisite: RESP 141 Clinical Experience I. Offered spring semester.

Clinical application of theory and practice of material covered in Respiratory Care I & II. Clinical education is provided by credentialed, college, clinical faculty. Evaluations include the cognitive, psycho-motor, and affective domains. Total hrs. 200. Prerequisite: RESP 103A Respiratory Care II and RESP 143 Clinical II. Offered summer session.

The drawing and analysis of blood gases, their interpretation, blood gas physiology and pathophysiology, as well as the applicable instrumentation. Also covered is complete pulmonary function testing, including body plethysmography, spirometry, diffusion, and lung volumes. The setup, operation, and maintenance of equipment, as well as interpretation of data and its application to patient care. The final segment of this course covers the causes, diagnosis, and management of Acute Respiratory Failure. Emphasis is placed on the care of the patient requiring continuous mechanical ventilation and the patient-ventilator interface. Laboratory practicums include arterial punctures, arterial and venous vascular line maintenance, maintenance and proficiency testing of blood gas analyzers, flow-volume loops, carbon monoxide diffusion tests, lung volumes including FRC, ventilator circuit changes, application of contemporary ventilators to lung simulators, trouble-shooting patient-ventilator alarm situations, adjustment of ventilator parameters to specific clinical conditions, and critical care bedside spirometry. May be taken for Honors. Class hrs. 6; Lab hrs. 4. Prerequisites: RESP 103A Respiratory Care II, RESP 143 Clinical II, and RESP 145 Summer Clinical I. Corequisite: RESP 202A Lab and RESP 241 Clinical III. Offered fall semester.

Covers invasive and non-invasive monitoring of the critically ill patient. Invasive studies include cardiac catheterization, arterial cannulation, and related hemodynamic monitoring. Non-invasive studies include oximetry, capnography, ECG monitoring and transcutaneous gas analysis. An intubation rotation is conducted where students develop proficiency in both intubation and extubation techniques. Neonatal and pediatric critical care, as well as general care, is covered, including high-risk delivery and transport, hyaline membrane disease, BPD, PFC, and other cardio-pulmonary dysfunctions peculiar to this population. The final segment of the course covers home care and rehabilitation. Laboratory practicums include application of an ECG arrhythmia simulator to an oscilloscope for interpretation and intervention; setup and maintenance of pulmonary artery catheters; interpretation of cardiovascular pressures; end-tidal CO2 analysis; VQ determinations; intubation/extubations on manikins; treadmill stress-testing; application, maintenance, and trouble-shooting of infant ventilators; infant CPAP devices and O2 hoods. Studies in this area include stress testing and patient education as well as rehabilitative procedures. May be taken for Honors. Class hrs. 6; Lab hrs. 4. Prerequisites: RESP 201A Respiratory Care III and RESP 241 Clinical III. Corequisite: RESP 204A Lab and RESP 243 Clinical IV. Offered spring semester.

Seminar discussion with a physician concerning patient’s care. These discussions include: disease mechanism, clinical appearance and management, as well as respiratory care implications. Cases include the major cardiopulmonary diseases to supplement those covered in the cardiopulmonary pathology class. Class hrs. 2. Prerequisites: Successful completion of Respiratory Care III, Clinical Experience III and Cardiopulmonary Pathology. Offered spring semester.

Application of theory and practice of material covered in Respiratory Care I, II & III. Clinica education is provided by the college’s credentialed, clinical faculty. Evaluations include the cognitive, psycho-motor, and affective domains. Total hrs. 180. Co-requisite: RESP 201A Respiratory Care III. Prerequisite: RESP 145 Summer Clinical Experience I. Offered fall semester.

Application of theory and practice of material covered in Respiratory Care I, II, III & IV. Clinical education is provided by the college’s credentialed, clinical faculty. Evaluations include the cognitive, psycho-motor, and affective domains. Total hrs. 180. Prerequisite: RESP 241 Clinical Experience III. Co-requisite: RESP 203A Respiratory Care IV. Offered spring semester.

Clinical application of theory and practice of material covered in Respiratory Care III & IV. Clinical education is provided by the college’s credentialed, clinical faculty. Evaluations include the cognitive, psycho-motor, and affective domains. Physician input is an integral component of this course. Includes daily sessions as well as weekly NBRC-type exams to prepare for credentialing exams.* Total hrs. 200. Prerequisite: RESP 203A Respiratory Care IV and RESP 243 Clinical IV. Offered summer semester.

* A series of NBRC exams must be successfully completed in this course in order to pass the course.