RC 122 - Special Procedures I

Credit Hours: 3

Utilizing both a lecture and a lab format, this course is designed to provide the necessary information and practice in a variety of related respiratory care procedures. These related procedures include basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, artificial airways, airway care and management, bronchoscopy, bronchopulmonary hygiene therapy, and basic thoracic imaging, as well as practice in the transportation of patients.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

demonstrate an understanding of and provide basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation as described by the American Heart Association’s latest standards;
demonstrate an understanding of and provide airway management;
- how to safely perform endotracheal and nasotracheal suctioning;
- how to properly obtain sputum samples;
- how to assess the need for and select an artificial airway;
- what complications and hazards are associated with insertion of artificial airways;
- how to perform orotracheal and nasotracheal intubation of an adult;
- how to assess and confirm proper endotracheal tube placement;
- how and why tracheotomy is performed;
- what types of damage artificial airways can cause;
- how to properly maintain and troubleshoot artificial airways;
- how to measure and adjust tracheal tube cuff pressures;
- when and how to extubate or decannulate a patient;
- how to use alternative airway devices; and
- how to assist a physician in setting up and performing bronchoscopy.
demonstrate an understanding of and provide lung expansion therapy;
- what causes the various types of atelectasis;
- who needs lung expansion therapy;
- what clinical finding are seen in atelectasis;
- how lung expansion therapy works;
- what indications, hazards, and complications are associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy; and
- what the primary responsibilities of the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) are in planning, implement, and evaluating lung expansion therapy.
demonstrate an understanding of and provide bronchial hygiene therapy;
- how normal airway clearance mechanisms work and what can impair their function;
- what diseases are associated with abnormal clearance secretions;
- what goals and indications apply to bronchial hygiene therapy;
- how to assess the need for bronchial hygiene therapy;
- how to select and perform various bronchial hygiene therapies, including:
  - postural drainage therapy;
  - directed coughing and related expulsion techniques;
  - positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy;
  - high-frequency compression/oscillation methods;
  - mobilization and exercise; and
  - cough assist.
- how to monitor and evaluate a patient’s response to bronchial hygiene; and
- how to modify bronchial hygiene therapies on the basis of patient response.
demonstrate a basic understanding of thoracic imaging studies; and
- how thoracic imaging assists in the diagnosis of pulmonary disease;
- what steps are used to interpret thoracic imaging studies;
- how to identify the more commonly encountered abnormalities seen in thoracic imaging studies; and
- how to apply some rules of thumb about imaging in the practice of respiratory care
demonstrate an understanding of the skills necessary for inter-hospital and land/air transports of patients.

Prerequisites: Matriculation in the Respiratory Care Program or permission of the department, RC 110, RC 111, RC 112, RC 114. All Respiratory Care coursework must be taken in sequential order.
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