RCA 265

COURSE SYLLABUS

1.	TITLE OF COURSE:	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
	PREFIX/NUMBER:	RCA 265	CREDIT HOURS:	2
2.	PREREQUISITE:	RCA 223 or consent of instructor
	INSTRUCTOR:	Patty Paisely, RRT Pueblo Community College/Front Range Community College Voice: (303) 404-5222 Fax: (303) 404-2178 Email: patty.paisley@ frontrange.edu
3.	RESOURCES NEEDED:

	TEXT:	Respiratory Care Exam Review by Gary Persing 2nd Edition
	SUPPLIES:
4.	COURSE DESCRIPTION:	The course will focus on preparation for the national board exams, both CRT and RRT levels. The class will also be video taped for those taking this course via distance learning formats.

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 simulatoin.)

6.	COURSE OBJECTIVES: Will be handed out in class

7.	EVALUATION PROCEDURES:
	Mock credentialing exams will be given at designated times. These exams will consist of one mock CRT exams, written RRT exams and RRT clincial simulation exams. The mock CRT and Written RRT exams will be taken via computer-based testing and written paper exams. Prior to beginning the CRT reviews, the student will be required to take a pretest. This test is mainly content based to give the student an indication of where strengths and weaknesses may occur. 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 threshholds for the CRT and RRT (Written) Exams. STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PASS THESE TESTS WITH THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, WILL NOT BE GIVEN A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION FOR THE PROGRAM, AND WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETAKE THIS CLASS WHEN OFFERED OR AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR.
	Final grade determination will be made on a percentage basis of required activities in the course.
	PROFESSIONAL RESUME Each student will be responsible for producing one professional resume before April 21,2005.

	Final grades will be composed of the following:

Student taking full semester course:

CRT Exams

Written RRT Exams

RRT Clinical Simulations

Resume

Outline:

January 12, 2005 Chapter 1 – Oxygen and Medical Gas Therapy (p. 1-19)

Chapter 2 – Humidity and Aerosol (p. 20-27)

January 19, 2005 Chapter 3 – Assessment of Patient (p. 28-43)

Chapter 4 – Management of the Airway (p. 45-59)

January 26, 2005 Chapter 5 – Special Procedures (p. 60-64)

Chapter 6 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (p. 65-72)

February 2, 2005 Chapter 7 – Hyperinflation Therapy (p. 73-81)

Chapter 8 – Bronchopulmonary Hygiene Therapy (p. 83-89)

February 9, 2005 Chapter 9 – Cardiac Monitoring (p. 90-104)

Chapter 10 – ABG Interpretation (p. 106-113)

February 16, 2005 Chapter 11 – Ventilator Management (p. 114-133)

February 23, 2005 Chapter 12 - Disorders of Respiratory System (p. 135-147)

Chapter 13 – Neonatal and Pediatric RT Care (p. 149-159)

March 2, 2005 Chapter 14 – Respiratory Medications (p. 161-167)

Chapter 15 – Respiratory Home Care (p. 168-171)

March 9, 2005 Chapter 16 – Pulmonary Function Testing (p. 172-179)

Chapter 17 – Equipment and Infection Control (p. 180-184)

March 16, 2005 Practice CRTT done in class

March 23, 2005 Spring Break

March 30, 2005 Practice RRT done in class

Page two – Professional Development

April 6, 2005 You will complete the Entry Level CRTT on CD Rom

and bring results to class. We will review results.

April 13, 2005 You will complete the Advanced Level RRT and Clinical

Simulations (10) on CD Rom and bring results to class.

We will review results.

April 20, 2005 Complete the CRTT Entry Level required to pass the

class.

April 27, 2005 Complete the RRT Advanced Level and Clinical

Simulations required to pass the class.

May 4, 2005 Makeup tests if necessary.

	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 student will be expected to make an appointment to take each exam within that exam's corresponding window. They will not be allowed to bring anything to the testing appointment with the exception of a form of photo identification. Missed appointments must be rescheduled within seven business days, but the makeup exam with be worth a maximum of 90%. Exams not rescheduled within this time period will not be allowed to be taken and a grade of "0" will be recorded
	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 given a certificate of completion for the program.
	5.	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. 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.