School
Health and Human Services
Division
Health Careers
Department
Respiratory Therapy
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
Respiratory Therapist
Course Number
298
Course Title
Advanced Clinical Therapeutics Practicum
Cross-Referenced Course
Credit Hours
7.00
Instructor Contact Hours Per Semester
107.00 (for 15-week classes)
Student Contact Hours Per Semester
315.00 (for 15-week classes)
Grading Method
A-E
Pre-requisites
RTH-220, RTH-240, RTH-250, and RTH-292 all with a C grade or higher.
Catalog Course Description
Directed clinical experience that further develops the clinical skills and techniques used to manage patients requiring mechanical ventilator support in the hospital, sub-acute and home care settings. Twenty-four hours per week.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
Core Course Topics
- Management of Mechanical Ventilatory Support
- Determine the indication for mechanical ventilation.
- Assemble and verify proper function of the ventilator before placement on the patient.
- Initiate, conduct and modify prescribed ventilator settings including modes of ventilation to achieve adequate acid/base balance, ventilation and oxygenation while monitoring patient’s response to respiratory therapy.
- Recommend, institute and modify weaning procedures based on patient’s response.
- Conduct therapeutic procedures to achieve maintenance of a patent airway, removal of bronchopulmonary secretions, adequate spontaneous ventilation and/or arterial and tissue oxygenation according to individual patient needs. Demonstrate a comprehensive patient-ventilator system check.
- Incorporate all respiratory care modalities during a typical shift assignment.
- Diagnostic Testing
- Evaluate a patient’s ventilation/oxygenation status through the use of invasive and noninvasive monitoring including but not limited to: patient assessment skills, pulse oximetry, capnography, electrocardiography (ECG), bedside pulmonary mechanics, Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) results and/or hemodynamic parameters.
- Recommend and/or make necessary modifications in therapeutic procedures, and ventilatory support based on patient’s response. Provide emergency care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation or some portion of the procedures involving patients to include intubation, extubation, bronchoscopy and transport for special procedures.
- Demonstrate the proper procedure for arterial blood sampling through arterial puncture and arterial line sampling.
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Discuss Pulmonary rehabilitation techniques and application for the patient.
- Special Procedures
- Discuss special procedures in the critically ill patient.
- Home Care
- Discuss Home Care equipment and application.
- Neonatal / Pediatrics.
- Discuss Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care therapeutics.
- Communication & Professional Behaviors
- Comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) guidelines when dealing with patients & their medical records in the health care setting.
- Apply appropriate professional behaviors when dealing with physicians, hospital staff, fellow students, patients & patient families.
- Demonstrate correct use of universal precautions and infection control procedures in the clinical setting.
- Correlate learned theory and techniques and apply that knowledge to direct patient care included in a critical care assignment. (i.e. ventilatory support, equipment, managing patients, etc.)
- Communicate verbally in language appropriate to patients and professional staff.
- Communicate appropriately and accurately in written form in appropriate notes and reports.
- Demonstrate professional behaviors appropriate to the registered respiratory therapist.
Assessment and Requirements
Assessment of Academic Achievement
Written documentation, observation of clinical practice, weekly clinical logs, shared feedback forms, physician interaction reports, affective and clinical management, final evaluations, and clinical competency evaluations are used to assess attainment of objectives in the area of knowledge, skills, and affective behaviors.
General Course Requirements and Recommendations
Students must pass this course with a "C" or better to remain in the RTH program.
Texts
To be determined by program faculty.
Outcomes
Satisfies Wellness Requirement
No
Satisfies Honors Requirements
No
Effective Term
Fall 2025