1999-2000 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705

Respiratory Care

Allied Health Professions Programs
College of Health and Human Services

Credit designation below title is expressed in (c) class hours per week, (l) lab or (d) discussion section hours per week, and (sh) semester hours of credit per semester.

RT 326 Respiratory Care Clinical Practice I
var-3sh
First exposure to patient care. Introduction and practice of basic respiratory care treatment modalities receive emphasis.

RT 327 Pharmacology
3c-0l-3sh
Introduction to pharmacology and therapeutics. Emphasis placed on the drugs used in respiratory care. Drug classification, action, usage, dosage, and availability will be discussed.

RT 328 Introduction to Respiratory Care
4c-0l-4sh
Topics include medical terminology and an overview of cellular structure and function. Emphasis is placed on neurophysiology, respiratory anatomy, and physiology.

RT 329 Respiratory Care Equipment
4c-0l-4sh
Introduction to respiratory therapy equipment, related procedures and principles, techniques and theory of mechanical ventilation. Special emphasis will be given to oxygen delivery systems and the rationale for their use.

RT 330 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
2c-0l-2sh
Comprehensive analysis of the principles and practices of numerous methods of resuscitation.

RT 333 Respiratory Care Clinical Practice II
var-4sh
Treatment procedures introduced in Clinical I are continued with greater emphasis on independence. Specialty rotations are added to broaden exposure to respiratory care and critical care.

RT 334 Respiratory Care Instrumentation and Application
4c-0l-4sh
Provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of mechanical ventilation. The care of critically ill and physiologic consequences of mechanical ventilation will be discussed.

RT 335 Nursing Arts
3c-0l-3sh
An overview of the history of respiratory care and nursing. Topics include medical records, infection control, sterilization, and psychosocial aspects of illness.

RT 336 Cardiopulmonary Evaluation and Clinical Correlation
4c-0l-4sh
Disease states of the pulmonary and related systems are investigated in progression from etiology through treatment and prognosis.

RT 337 Introduction to Pulmonary Function Studies
1c-0l-1sh
The student is introduced to the basic principles of lung volumes, capacities, and their measurement. Blood gas sampling and electrodes are also explored.

RT342 Preceptorship in Respiratory Care
1c-0l-1sh
Prerequisites: RT326, 328, 329, 330, permission
An opportunity for students to gain additional clinical experiences in a supervised health care setting. Must meet university and sponsoring preceptorship requirements. May be repeated for a maximum of five credits. A minimum of 40 hours is required for each credit.

RT425 Clinical Case Studies
3c-0l-3sh
Designed to increase the working knowledge of disease states commonly experienced by patients in the critical care setting. Emphasis is placed on recognition and treatment of various disease states. Methods for evaluation and treatment of clinical oxygenation disturbances and acid-base disorders will be explored. Clinical simulations, case studies, and patient management problems reviewed and discussed. Emphasis is on appropriate information-gathering and decision-making techniques.

RT 426 Respiratory Care Clinical Practice III
var-5sh
Respiratory care treatment procedures are continued with emphasis on improving proficiency and refining skills. Students will make rounds with physicians.

RT 428 Essentials of Electrocardiography
2c-0l-2sh
Designed to acquaint the student with basic principles in cardiac electro-diagnostics. Topics include the technique of ECG testing and fundamentals of ECG arrhythmia recognition.

RT 429 Design and Function of a Respiratory Care Program
2c-0l-2sh
Basic management principles as they apply to the hospital setting; in particular, respiratory care departments and schools will be discussed.

RT 430 Pulmonary Function Studies
2c-0l-2sh
Prerequisite: RT337
Introduces the student to the advanced diagnostic studies and equipment necessary for diagnosing and quantifying the various lung diseases. Included are advances in invasive studies and rehabilitation evaluation tools.

RT 431 Pediatric Respiratory Care
1c-0l-1sh
Prerequisites: RT334 and RT336
The application of respiratory care to children ages six months to fifteen years is explored. Cardiopulmonary pathophysiology and treatment for the following disorders are discussed: Croup, Epiglottitis, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Congenital Heart Defects, Abdominal and Chest Wall Defects.

RT 433 Respiratory Care Clinical Practice IV
var-5sh
Rotations on treatment and intensive respiratory care are continued. Advanced rotations are included.

RT 434 Neonatal Respiratory Care
3c-0l-3sh
Basic terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology of obstetric, fetal, neonatal, and pediatric patients will be presented.

RT 436 Respiratory Care Teaching
2c-0l-2sh
An introduction to respiratory education.

RT 437 Methods in Critical Care
2c-0l-2sh
Critical Care diagnostic and therapeutic modalities pertinent to respiratory care will be discussed. Topics include invasive and noninvasive cardiac monitoring, pulmonary monitoring, neurological assessment, ventilator commitment, and discontinuance.

RT 438 Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
1c-0l-1sh
Techniques and principles associated with cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs are surveyed. Topics also include the management of chronic pulmonary disease in the home and the application of respiratory equipment and mechanical ventilators in this setting.

RT 481 Special Topics
var-1-3sh
Prerequisite: As appropriate to course content
Special topics courses are offered on an experimental or temporary basis to explore topics that are not included in the established curriculum. A given topic may be offered under any special topic identity no more than three times. Special topics numbered 481 are primarily for upper-level undergraduate students.