1.

TITLE OF COURSE:

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PREFIX/NUMBER:

RCA 265

CREDIT HOURS:

2

2.

PREREQUISITE:

RCA 223 or consent of instructor

INSTRUCTOR:

Delia Ann Lechtenberg MA, RRT
Pueblo Community College
Voice: (719)549-3266
Email: delia.lechtenberg@pueblocc.edu.
 

3.

RESOURCES NEEDED:

TEXT:

Respiratory Care Exam Review by Gary Persing  3rd Edition      

SUPPLIES:

Computer with Internet access

4.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course will focus on preparation for the national board exams, both CRT and RRT levels.   

5.

COURSE GOAL:

The major goal is for the student to review the respiratory care concepts and test taking skills necessary to maximize their chances in successful passage of the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) exam and the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exams (written and clinical simulation.)

6.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  Will be handed out in class

7.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

MOCK CREDENTIALING EXAMS –Pass/Fail

 Mock credentialing exams will be given at scheduled times. These exams will consist of mock CRT exams, written RRT exams and RRT clinical simulation exams. The exams will be taken via computer-based testing given at each campus.  THE MOCK CRT AND RRT EXAMS ARE TO BE COMPLETED AND PASSED AT THE THRESHOLDS INDICATED below to complete this course and receive a certificate of completion for the program.  

To pass this course, the student will be required to pass the following exams at these minimum levels:  CRT - 75%; RRT (Written) - 70%. RRT; (Clinical Simulations) - 69%.

The student will have up to three (3) opportunities to achieve these minimum thresholds for the CRT and RRT (Written) Exams, and four (4) attempts to pass the simulation exams.  There is a 1 day waiting period between re-attempts for the exams.

Final grade determination will be made on a percentage basis of required activities in the course.

NBRC Comprehensive Self Assessment Exam- Pass/Fail

Before a student can graduate from this program, he/she is to complete a WEB-BASED exam that is given through the National Board for Respiratory Care.  The threshold required for this exam is cut score of 55.  The exam will be given only once.  Any student who fails to pass the exam at the threshold established by the NBRC will receive a grade of an “I” for RCA 265 and be required to take a remediation during the summer semester. No student will be allowed to take the exam twice in one semester.  A student cannot be declared a graduate until he/she passes this exam at the prescribed threshold.  There will be no exceptions, this is a standard established for graduation.

PROFESSIONAL RESUME  (1) – 10%

 Each student will be responsible for producing one professional resume. A class will be taught on how to write a resume. After the class the student will be required to produce a professional resume. The resume is to be completed as if the student is applying for a job.   Unprofessional resumes will be returned un-graded.  Directions for the resume will be given during the class.

Module exams.(4)  -50%

At the end of each module, module exams will be given over the information that was covered in the assignment.   Each student will be given two (2) attempts to successfully pass the exam at a 85% threshold Any student who fails to pass the module exams 85%  or greater by the deadline will fail the course.  There is a 1 day waiting period between attempts.  Any student who attempts to re-take the exam prior to the 1 day waiting period will automatically fail  the course. The highest achieved score of each module will be recorded as the grade for this section.  The modules exams have deadlines.  Any student who fails to complete the module exams by the given deadlines automatically fails the course. 

NBRC

Competency exams (3)   -40%

The competency exam is designed to challenge the students overall knowledge base of all aspects of respiratory care, and will consist of questions from the CRT and RRT level. The student is to pass the competency exam at a threshold of 75% and can repeat the exam three times to achieve this within the given time frame given for the exam. There will be a one (1) day waiting period allotted between attempts;   The highest achieved score of each competency will be recorded as the grade for this section.  The competency exams will be available on Desire2Learn. The exams are opened from first day of class but each one has a closing date.  See schedule.

Practice CRT/RRT exams.  Beginning Jan 25^th practice CRT exams and RRT exams (both written and simulation) will be given at each campus. These will be proctored exams and students will not be allowed into the exams without supervision from your instructor.  

Mock CRT Exam (1).  The Mock CRT exams will be given March 14^th   at both campuses. Times for the exam will be given by the instructor. You must pass this exam with a 75%.   You will be given three opportunities to pass this exam; however, additional attempts must be scheduled with your instructor. There will be a minimum of a 1 day waiting period before a student will be allowed to re-attempt the exam.  If you do not meet the threshold of 75% by the 3^rd attempt you will not pass this class.

Mock RRT Written Exam (1).  The Mock RRT written exam will be given April 4^th.  You must pass this exam with a 70%. As with the Mock CRT you will have three attempts, however, additional attempts must be scheduled with your instructor. There will be a minimum of a 1 day waiting period before a student will be allowed to re-attempt the exam If you do not meet the threshold of 70% by the 3^rd attempt you will not pass this class.

Mock RRT Simulation Exam. The Mock RRT simulation will taken April 25^th There will be 10 simulations to successfully complete.  You must pass this exam with a 69% pass rate.  You will be given 4 opportunities to pass the exam; additional attempts must be scheduled with your instructor. There will be a minimum of a 1 day waiting period before a student will be allowed to re-attempt the exam. You must pass the clinical simulation exam before 5:00 pm May 4th .  If you do not meet the threshold of 69% by the 4^th attempt you will not pass this class.

NBRC Comprehensive Self Assessment Exam (1)
This exam will be given on May 2.  Directions for this exam will be given by your instructor at the time of the exam.  

Class meetings:  

This is a hybrid class.  Students will be required to attend classes as scheduled on attached schedule.

CRT/RRT EXAMINATION REVIEW WORKSHOP 

The CRT/RRT Examination Workshop will be held on Friday March 9^th and Saturday March 10^th. This is MANDATORY.   Students are required to attend both days. Missing the seminar because of illness of either student or family member will require a doctor’s excuse.  The cost for this seminar will be $150.00.    The seminar will be video conference to SCCC-East.  

 Student taking full semester course:

Module Exams

Competency exams

Resume

 CRT Exams

Written RRT Exams

RRT Clinical Simulations

NBRC Comprehensive Self-Assessment Exam

CRT/RRT Review

 50%

40% 

10%

Pass/Fail

Pass/Fail

Pass/Fail

Pass/Fail

Pass/Fail

Grading Scale

Raw Score Range

Letter Grade

100

to

93

A

92

to

85

B

84

to

75

C

74

to

70

D

69

to

0

F

SPECIAL REMARKS

1.

Attendance for this class will follow the attendance policy outlined in the Respiratory Care Program Handbook.

2.

Exams: Each exam will be treated as if the student were actually taking a credentialing exam.  There will be a window of opportunity when the student can take each exam.  The CRT, RRT exams and the NBRC SAE will only be given at the designated campuses. 

3.

The student is expected to meet with the instructor if he/she does not understand the material.

4.

Failure to pass the final CRT Exam with a 75% or above, the Final RRT with 70% or above and the Final Sims exam with 69% or above will result in the student failing the class, and the student will not be shown as a graduate from this program, until such time the student meets the requirements.  

5.

Failure to pass the NBRC Comprehensive Self-Assessment exam at a cut score of 55 or above, will result in the student receiving a grade of an “I” in the RCA 265 course, and will not be shown as a graduate from this program, and will be required to return during the summer to complete the requirements that will be set forth by the instructor.  

6.

The student is expected to spend 2-3 hours per credit hour preparing for class and reading the assignments.

8.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

Respiratory therapy will not be taught in this course.  This course is designed to be a review for the NBRC credentialing exams. If a student feels they do not know the material, it is his/her responsibility to learn it, or meet with your instructor for clarification or tutoring. The faculty will act more as a facilitator than as a teacher.  Success in this course is greatly dependent on the effort the student puts into preparation for the mock exams.  This will prepare the student for taking the actual exams after graduation. 

9.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Pueblo Community College has adopted a policy of academic conduct as described in the Student Handbook. Violation of academic integrity may be defined to include the following: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty, and personal misrepresentation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Sanctions for violating the standards of academic integrity may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or failure of the course or assignment at the discretion of the instructor.

10.

ADA NOTICE:

“Students who have a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations for this class.  Please contact the Disability Resources Center at 549-3446 for further information.”