School
Health and Human Services
Division
Health Careers
Department
Respiratory Therapy
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
Respiratory Therapist
Course Number
130
Course Title
Therapeutic Procedures I
Credit Hours
4.00
Instructor Contact Hours Per Semester
84.50 (for 15-week classes)
Student Contact Hours Per Semester
84.50 (for 15-week classes)
Grading Method
A-E
Pre-requisites
Admission to the Respiratory Program
Catalog Course Description
This course provides instruction in beginning therapeutic procedures utilized by the respiratory therapist. Course content includes basic patient and pulmonary assessment, pulse oximetry, basic gas laws, medical gas administration, oxygen therapy delivery systems, and lung expansion techniques. Students practice these procedures in a guided laboratory setting. Course includes 2 hours of lecture and 3 hours of lab each week.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
Core Course Topics
- Pressure/Volume/Temperature/Flow
- Medical Gas Therapy
- Oxygen Therapy
- Miscellaneous Oxygen Delivery Devices
- Humidity and Aerosol
- Vital Signs
- Basic Pulmonary Assessment
- Lung Expansion Techniques
- Oxygen Analyzers
- Home Oxygen Use
Core Course Learning Objectives (Separated)
- Identify the major components of a health history.
- Define the four major chest examination techniques.
- Describe the components that make up a patient’s vital signs.
- List the normal values for each of the vital signs and common causes of deviation from normal in the adult.
- Demonstrate the techniques for obtaining vital signs.
- Define the terms used to describe breathing patterns during inspection of the chest.
- Demonstrate the measurement and calculation of the components of basic pulmonary assessment including lung volumes, lung capacities, minute ventilation, peak expiratory flowrates, and negative inspiratory force.
- Describe cough, deep breathing, and incentive spirometry for the purpose of lung hyperexpansion.
- Demonstrate the techniques of deep breathing and incentive spirometry.
- Discuss the operating principles, clinical indications, and limitations of pulse oximetry.
- Contrast solids, liquids, and gases.
- Compare and contrast common systems of weights and measurements.
- Describe Dalton’s law of partial pressures.
- Identify combined gas law, Boyle’s law, Charles’ law, and Gay-Lussac’s law.
- Describe the physical properties, chemical symbols, and uses of oxygen, air, carbon dioxide, helium, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen.
- Compare and contrast gaseous and liquid storage methods for medical gases.
- Discuss the established safety systems for the various equipment connections to ensure the delivery of a specific medical gas.
- Calculate the duration of flow for oxygen from a gas and liquid storage system.
- Describe the design, use, and troubleshooting of various bulk gas supply systems.
- Describe the operation of reducing valves, flow measuring devices and regulators.
- Compare low-flow and high-flow oxygen delivery systems.
- Compare the advantages and disadvantages of humidifiers for patient use during oxygen delivery.
- Describe the operation and utilization of bland aerosol delivery systems.
- Given a variety of case studies, recommend the appropriate oxygen delivery device and humidity/aerosol deliver system for patient use.
- Describe the types and use of home oxygen systems.
- Describe the principles of operation and indication for the use of oxygen analyzers.
Assessment and Requirements
Assessment of Academic Achievement
Assessment will be based on performance evaluations, lab exams (practicals), worksheets and homework assignments, written exams, a final lab practical and written exam.
Texts
To be determined by program faculty.
Outcomes
Satisfies Wellness Requirement
No
Approval Dates
Effective Term
Fall 2019
Review Semester
Fall 2019