RCP 701 - Respiratory Care Clinic I

Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 1
Lab Hours: 0
Practicum Hours: 8
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: Open

This course provides the initial hospital experience for respiratory therapy students, focusing on supervised care of patients with respiratory disorders. Students will deliver respiratory care, demonstrating professionalism and ethical practice while performing patient assessments; administering basic therapies such as aerosol therapy, oxygen therapy, and airway clearance; managing treatments; practicing infection control; and providing patient and family education in diverse clinical settings.
Prerequisite: RCP 110 and RCP 250
Corequisite: RCP 360 and RCP 401
Competencies

Evaluate Professionalism
1. Promote the respiratory therapy profession
2. Display professionalism through attitude, communication, appearance, and dependability
3. Develop confidence in abilities, exercise good judgement, and maintain composure in stressful situations
4. Manage time effectively and develop a workflow
Evaluate infection control
1. Practice infection control by properly donning and doffing personal protective equipment, using the appropriate personal protective equipment when appropriate and washing/sanitizing hands
2. Properly clean and disinfect equipment
Evaluate ethics in the healthcare setting
Support accurate use of the electronic medical record
1. Document thoroughly in the patient’s medical record
2. Navigate an electronic medical record to obtain a patient’s pertinent medical and therapeutic history
Maintain confidentiality
1. Abide by all state and federal laws
2. Abide by all policies at each clinical site
Evaluate patient responses to respiratory therapies and make evidence-based modifications to the treatment plan
1. Recommend treatment based on patient diagnosis
2. Recommend adjustments in fluid balance and electrolyte therapy
3. Recommend changes for patient positioning, oxygen therapy, humidification, airway clearance, and hyperinflation
4. Recommend pharmacological interventions and changes to drug, administration, frequency, mode or concentration for medications
5. Observe respiratory care in high-risk situations
Conduct family and patient education regarding safety and infection control, home care and related equipment, lifestyle changes, and disease/condition management
Perform routine respiratory care under direct supervision of a respiratory therapist
1. Perform vital signs assessment
2. Perform oxygen therapy
3. Perform airway clearance techniques
4. Perform suctioning of the airway
5. Administer aerosolized medications
6. Provide adequate humidification
7. Properly draw an arterial blood gas and evaluate the results

Competencies Revised Date: FY2027