The student will be able to:

1. Perform patient assessments.
2. Select appropriate therapy based on the patient assessment.
3. Discuss indications for therapy.
4. Perform hyperinflation therapy.
5. Perform bronchial hygiene and chest physiotherapy.
6. Perform aerosol drug therapy.
7. Discuss medications used for airway pharmacology.
8. Assess the need for and selection of appropriate artificial airways.
9. Safely perform endotracheal and nasotracheal suctioning.
10. Discuss indications for non-invasive ventilation.
11. Perform arterial blood sampling.

1. Bedside patient assessment
   1. General appearance
   2. Vital signs
   3. Level of consciousness
   4. Examination of head and neck
   5. Examination of the thorax and lungs
   6. Abdominal examination
   7. Examination of extremities
2. Appropriate therapy selection based on patient assessment findings
3. Therapy performed as indicated
   1. Patient assessments
   2. Interpretation of laboratory data
4. Hyperinflation therapy
   1. Incentive spirometry administration
   2. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) administration
   3. Indications, contraindication, and hazards for therapy
   4. Methods for evaluating therapy effectiveness
5. Bronchial hygiene and chest physiotherapy (CPT)
   1. Bronchial hygiene techniques
      1. Postural drainage
      2. Directed cough and expulsion techniques
      3. Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy
      4. High frequency and oscillation methods
      5. Mobilization and exercise
   2. Evaluating patient's response to therapy
6. Aerosol drug therapy and medication used for airway pharmacology
   1. Drug delivery systems
      1. Metered dose inhalers (MDI)
      2. Dry powder inhalers (DPI)
      3. Spacers
      4. Small volume nebulizers (SVN)
   2. Aerosol routes, mode of actions, and classes of drug
7. Establishing an artificial airway
   1. Selection of an artificial airway
      1. Oropharyngeal airway
      2. Nasopharyngeal airway
   2. Emergency airways
      1. Endotracheal tubes
      2. Tracheostomy
   3. Airway maintenance
8. Endotracheal and nasotracheal suctioning
   1. Indications for suctioning
   2. Hazards of suctioning
   3. Oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, tracheostomy suction procedures
   4. Adult vs. child vs. infant suctioning
   5. Methods of evaluating effectiveness
9. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)
   1. Indications of non-invasive positive pressure (NPPV)
   2. Selection of patients for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)
   3. Selection of appropriate delivery device to deliver non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)
   4. Complications/hazards associated with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)
   5. Appropriate interface selection
10. Arterial blood gases
    1. Allen's test
    2. Indications/complications/hazards of arterial blood sampling
    3. Obtaining arterial blood samples

1. Bedside patient assessment
   1. General appearance
   2. Vital signs
   3. Level of consciousness
   4. Examination of head and neck
   5. Examination of the thorax and lungs
   6. Abdominal examination
   7. Examination of extremities
2. Appropriate therapy selection based on patient assessment findings
3. Therapy performed as indicated
   1. Patient assessments
   2. Interpretation of laboratory data
4. Hyperinflation therapy
   1. Incentive spirometry administration
   2. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) administration
   3. Indications, contraindication, and hazards for therapy
   4. Methods for evaluating therapy effectiveness
5. Bronchial hygiene and chest physiotherapy (CPT)
   1. Bronchial hygiene techniques
      1. Postural drainage
      2. Directed cough and expulsion techniques
      3. Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy
      4. High frequency and oscillation methods
      5. Mobilization and exercise
   2. Evaluating patient's response to therapy
6. Aerosol drug therapy and medication used for airway pharmacology
   1. Drug delivery systems
      1. Metered dose inhalers (MDI)
      2. Dry powder inhalers (DPI)
      3. Spacers
      4. Small volume nebulizers (SVN)
   2. Aerosol routes, mode of actions, and classes of drug
7. Establishing an artificial airway
   1. Selection of an artificial airway
      1. Oropharyngeal airway
      2. Nasopharyngeal airway
   2. Emergency airways
      1. Endotracheal tubes
      2. Tracheostomy
   3. Airway maintenance
8. Endotracheal and nasotracheal suctioning
   1. Indications for suctioning
   2. Hazards of suctioning
   3. Oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, tracheostomy suction procedures
   4. Adult vs. child vs. infant suctioning
   5. Methods of evaluating effectiveness
9. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)
   1. Indications of non-invasive positive pressure (NPPV)
   2. Selection of patients for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)
   3. Selection of appropriate delivery device to deliver non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)
   4. Complications/hazards associated with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)
   5. Appropriate interface selection
10. Arterial blood gases
    1. Allen's test
    2. Indications/complications/hazards of arterial blood sampling
    3. Obtaining arterial blood samples

Student daily evaluations
Trajesys reporting system
Clinical instructor observations
Case studies
Respiratory Therapy competency checklist

Demonstration
Discussion
Lab competencies as demonstrated in skills

There are no textbooks for this course.

Students are expected to complete floor care competencies to demonstrate their understanding of each of their patient's conditions, interventions, and treatments. Competency demonstration includes ​return demonstration, medical record documentation, and verbal narratives on ​patient assessment​, delivery of respiratory modalities, and the development of patient care plans and therapy plan for each patient.