1.

TITLE OF COURSE:

INTERNSHIP I

PREFIX/NUMBER:

RCA 280

CREDIT HOURS:

4.5

2.

PREREQUISITE:

RCA 131, 132, 151, 152, 155, 161 and 165

FACULTY:

Sandy Curtis, BS RRT

Director of Clinical Education

Pueblo Community College
900 West Orman Avenue
Pueblo, CO 81004
Voice:  (719) 549-3265  Pager: (719) 546-8712
Email: Cassandra.curtis@pueblocc.edu

Michelle Montoya, RRT

Clinical Instructor

Cell:  (719) 252-8192

Email:  Michelle.montoya@pueblocc.edu

PJ Gillen, RRT

Clinical Instructor- Southwest Center

Cell:  (505) 215-0696

Email:  aisforairway@yahoo.com 

3.

RESOURCES NEEDED:

TEXT:

Pueblo Community College Clinical Student Handbook, 2007-2009

Recommended:  Pocket Guide to Respiratory Care by Dana Oakes 

All Textbooks used in previous courses are to be used as reference material

Various Handouts as given by the Faculty

4.

COURSE GOAL:

The primary intent of the course will be to take a novice respiratory therapy student and place him/her into the hospital setting so that with the help of repetitive performance of basic respiratory therapy procedures, combined with preceptor feedback, the student will develop into an individual who can begin to manifest the cognitive and noncognitive characteristics distinctive of a registered respiratory care practitioner. 

The intended learning outcomes of this course are focused in three primary directions: 1) beginning development of basic technical skills and procedures through practice and understanding, 

2) the development and improvement of patient assessment skills, critical reasoning skills and clinical judgment making abilities, and 

3) Development of key professional affective skills. Such a diverse set of learning outcomes will necessitate a diverse number of experiences and evaluation tools.

5.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

The course represents the application of all concepts previously presented in the respiratory program. The primary intent here is to assure that the student is continuing to develop along the path of mastery by placing him/her in situations where previously covered concepts and actions are implemented appropriately within a professional clinical setting and then evaluate the student in that setting for his/her level of development.

It is expected that the student be satisfactorily proficient in most, if not all, procedures by the end of the semester. This can be accomplished by the student constantly evaluate himself/herself to find those areas that need more work, and then seek the help and experience that he/she needs to improve in those areas.

6. 

SPECIAL REMARKS

1.

Attendance/Tardies: Please refer to the “evaluation procedures” below.

2.

Assignments/Missed Exams: If a student is going to be absent during an exam, the student must call the instructor prior to the class period and make arrangements at that time to take the exam or quiz prior to the next class meeting unless other arrangements are made. If the student does not call the instructor prior to missing the test or quiz, they will not be allowed to make up the exam or quiz. A student is only allowed an excused absence from one major exam and two quizzes during a semester period. Absences from additional exams will not be allowed to be made up. If a student has an excused absence and misses the assignment then the student must make arrangements to get the assignment from the instructor prior to the next class period. The student will not be allowed to make up an assignment on an unexcused absence. Assignments turned in late will result in one complete grade loss for every day the assignment is late.  Assignments will not be accepted later than 3 days passed the due date and will result in the student receiving an “F” for the assignment.

3.

The student is expected to meet with the Director of Clinical Education/Instructor if he/she feels that they are having difficulties in the clinical areas, both with practical application of knowledge and/or interpersonal/professional situations.

4.

Failure to pass this class with a 77% or above will result in the student being automatically dropped from the program.

7.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

Instruction will be within the concept of actual patient care as well as regular quizzes and evaluation.  Students should learn as they apply the didactic knowledge from the classroom to the real world setting. 

8.

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.

9.

ADA NOTICE:

Students who have a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations for this class.  Please contact the Disability Resources Center at (719) 549-3446 for further information.

10.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

The overall grade for this course will be calculated as follows:

1.  Written Case Study (20%) - Each student will be required to write one written case study on a patient that the student has been involved/ worked with during their floor care rotation.  This written Case Study must follow the outline provided.   All students are required to turn in the Case Study via Web Vista to Sandy Curtis by midnight July 18, 2008.

2.  Logic of Instrumentation Exam (15%) - A written exam will be given during finals week to evaluate the overall knowledge and understanding of selected therapies/modalities that the program has covered.  This will be available on VISTA the last 2 weeks of the semester.

3. Attendance/Evaluation of Student (20%) - Students will be evaluated by their preceptors at the clinical site on a daily basis. A time sheet must be completed at the end of each rotation and signed by the preceptor.   Copies of these forms are attached and can be found on Vista.  Attendance is critical to the internship experience. If the student fails to call the DCE and the clinical sight prior to any absence this will be considered an unexcused absence and the student will be placed on probationary status.   

Attendance Policy for this course is as follows:

1^st Absence:  8% deduction from final grade- no make up necessary

2^nd Absence:  8% deduction from final grade- no make up necessary

3^rd Absence:  3% deduction from final grade- must be made up

4^th absence:  Student must repeat RCA 280

4.  Patient Assessment / Care Plans (4) (20%) - Students will be required to complete four care plans in their entirety during the semester.  An example of this form can be found on Vista. 

6. Weekly Journals (10%) - Students are required to make weekly “Journal Entries” under the discussion tool in VISTA.  These entries will be noted on the Vista calendar as to when they are due.  Each weekly entry is worth a maximum of 5 points.

5.  Physician Contact (10%) - Students are encouraged to speak with physicians and ask questions in the clinical setting and accumulate 20 contact points during the semester.  An example of the form used to document physician contact points and a description of the point scale can be found on Web Vista. 

6. Clinical Notebook (5%) -Students are to turn in all of the above materials (excluding the written case study) within a notebook.  The notebook is to be divided into compartments for:  1) Time sheets/tally sheets, 2) Student Evaluations, 3)Care Plans, 4)Physician interaction forms, 5) Evaluations of preceptors.  

Grade Scale

93

-

100

A

85

-

92

B

77

-

84

C

70

-

76

D

0

-

69

F