RCP 110 - Respiratory Care Introduction

1. Evaluate professional organizations and events related to respiratory care.
   1. Compare and contrast national organizations that influence the respiratory therapy profession.
   2. Critique events to promote and influence the respiratory therapy profession.
2. Discuss the impact of quality, patient safety and communication on patient care. 
   1. Define electronic health records (EHR) and their major uses in medicine and respiratory care.
   2. List the common components of a medical record.
   3. State the legal and practical obligations in record keeping.
3. Assess a patient at the bedside.   
   1. Interview a patient to assess mental status, symptoms, history and barriers to learning.    
   2. Perform a patient assessment including physical assessment, diagnostic percussion, general appearance, skin flaws, vital signs, pulse oximetry and chest assessment. 
   3. Evaluate trends in vital signs.
   4. Troubleshoot pulse oximetry devices.
4. Assess cough, sputum amount and characteristics.
   1. Analyze the principles of infection prevention and control.  
   2. Review infection prevention policies and procedures such as standard precautions, donning/doffing and isolation.
   3. Discuss when to use specific personal protective equipment in the care of respiratory patients.  
   4. Describe the strategies that can be implemented to control the spread of infection in the hospital.
   5. Compare disinfection and sterilization.
   6. Discuss the proper handling of biohazard materials. 
   7. Discuss common infections associated with hospitalization.
5. Interpret clinical and laboratory data significant to respiratory and cardiac conditions including but not limited to: CBC, electrolytes, coagulation studies, sputum culture and sensitivity, cardiac biomarkers. 
   1. List normal values. 
   2. Describe the importance of a critical lab value. 
   3. Explain culture and sensitivity testing.  
   4. Explain how to perform a sputum induction. 
6. Evaluate medical gas therapy. 
   1. List the indications for oxygen therapy. 
   2. Discuss general goals for oxygen therapy.
   3. Explain the hazards of oxygen therapy. 
   4. Assemble and troubleshoot oxygen delivery devices and interfaces and long-term oxygen therapy.  
   5. Initiate and adjust oxygen therapy. 
   6. Perform oxygen therapy initiation competency. 
   7. Perform heated high flow competency. 
   8. Describe oxygen titration with exertion testing and evaluate the results. 
   9. Identify the indications, complications and hazards of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. 
   10. Explain the use of heliox therapy in respiratory care.  
   11. Discuss the clinical applications for medical gases and medical gas mixtures. 
   12. Explain the use of oxygen analyzers. 
7. Analyze storage and delivery of medical gases.
   1.  Calculate the duration of remaining contents of a compressed oxygen cylinder.
   2.  Assemble and troubleshoot medical gas delivery equipment such as oxygen concentrator, liquid system, flowmeter, regulator, gas cylinder, blender, air compressor, and gas analyzer.  
8. 1. Select oxygen therapy in alternative settings.
   2. Assemble oxygen therapy in alterative settings.
   3. Monitor individuals and oxygen devices in alternative settings.
   4. Maintain oxygen therapy devices in alternative settings.
   5. State the definition and general goals of pulmonary rehabilitation programs.