Respiratory Care Therapist Program
RSPT 1167
Practicum - Respiratory Therapy Technician

SUMMER 2001


Instructors:     Michael Harshfield, B.S., R.R.T.
                        William Scott, B.S., R.R.T.
                         Carol Russell, A.A.S., R.R.T.

Credit:  1 Credit Hour

Prerequisites:  Departmental Approval

Course Description: Practical general training and experiences in the workplace.  The college with the employer develops and documents an individualized plan for the student.  The plan relates the workplace training and experiences to the student's general and technical course of study.  The guided external experiences may be paid or unpaid.  This course may be repeated if topics and learning outcomes vary.

Course Learning Outcomes: As outlined in the learning plan, the student will master the theory, concepts, and skills involving the tools, materials, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws, and interactions within and among political, economic,
environmental, and legal systems associated with the workplace; demonstrate ethical behavior, safety practices, interpersonal, and teamwork skills, appropriate verbal and written communications in the workplace.

Upon satisfactory completion of this course the student will:
 

1. Apply in clinical setting all procedures covered in RSPT 1438, 1439, and RSPT 1201.
2. Chart and record patient care.
3. Accurately perform patient assessment and apply related therapeutic protocol.
4. Demonstrate infection control techniques.
5. Provides direct patient care to a multiculturally diverse population

SCANS: 1. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of SCANS competency 1 (reading).  Performance will be satisfactory if the student successfully:

a. Demonstrates the ability to read and comprehend the medical record
b. Demonstrates the ability to read and comprehend test questions
  2. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of SCANS competency 2 (writing).  Performance will be satisfactory if the student successfully:
a. Writes papers in "SOAP" format on his/her patient and therapeutic modalities
b. Writes papers in "flowchart" format on his/her patient and therapeutic modalities


  3. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of SCANS competency 3 (mathematics).  Performance will be satisfactory if the student successfully:

a. Performs physiologic calculations
b. Explains physiologic calculations
c. Applies physiologic calculations
  4. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of SCANS competency 4 (speaking and listening).  Performance will be satisfactory if the student successfully:
a. Contributes to clinical discussions while in conference
b. Gives an oral presentation over a patient cared for during the course
c. Asks questions of colleagues regarding oral presentation
5. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of SCANS competency 5 (thinking skills).  Performance will be satisfactory if the student successfully:
a. Evaluates clinical data and patient assessment
b. Demonstrates problem-solving skills in clinical scenarios
c. Demonstrates decision-making skills in clinical scenarios
d. Demonstrates problem-solving skills in ABG analysis


6. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of SCANS competency 6 (personal qualities).  Performance will be satisfactory if the student successfully:

a. Interacts professionally with their peers in the clinical setting
b. Interacts professionally with faculty and staff in the clinical setting
7. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of SCANS competency 7 (workplace competencies).  Performance will be satisfactory if the student successfully:
a. Performs all assignments in a timely manner
b. Maintains punctuality throughout the course
c. Follows departmental procedures
8. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of SCANS competency 8 (basic use of computers).  Performance will be satisfactory if the student successfully charts via computer as per departmental procedure and protocol

Required Material: Professional uniform as outlined in Student Handbook.

Textbook:      Oakes, Dana, Clinical Practitioners Pocket Guide to Respiratory Care.
                      All other Respiratory Care textbooks will also be utilized.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all class, lab, and clinical sessions unless they are officially excused.  An official absence is granted when such absence is caused by official participation in a college activity and the instructor is informed in advance.  All other absences are unofficial.  Absences caused by unavoidable conditions, such as illness, should be reported to the clinical instructor or the department at the clinical affiliate at least 30 minutes prior to report time. The Clinical Director also needs to be called at (281) 312-1638 by 8:00 a.m. on the scheduled clinical day (utilize voice mail if no answer).  Absences will result in a 1 point reduction of the final average for each absence.  Upon the second absence, a verbal warning will be given to the student.  Upon the third absence, a written warning will be given to the student stating if another absence occurs the student will be withdrawn from the program.  Upon the fourth absence, the student will be withdrawn from all respiratory care course work.

No assignments may be made up.  One "SOAP" grade will be dropped per clinical rotation.

Leave of Absence is NOT given in this program.  Withdrawal is required.

Policies and Procedures: Student may find the following information in the Respiratory Care Student Handbook.
   -  Withdrawal policy
   -  Attendance policy
   -  Grading scale


The Respiratory Care Therapist Program practices a non-discriminatory admissions policy with respect to race, color, creed, sex, age, or national origin.

Course Structure: Clinical rotations in outlying health care community.
 

Clinical Guidelines: All students must comply with clinical guidelines as outlined below.
   The student shall:
   1. be responsible for notifying the respiratory department at the  clinical site and the office of the Clinical Director in a timely
manner (see "Attendance" above) if he/she is to be absent or tardy on a scheduled clinical day;

   2. be responsible for the safe, effective, and ethical practice of respiratory care under the supervision of the clinical instructor or appropriate hospital personnel;

   3. comply with all hospital policies and procedures;

   4. perform only those patient care procedures that the instructor has assigned (prior approval must be obtained from the clinical instructor before additional procedures may be attempted);

5. inform the instructor prior to initiating therapy when he/she is unfamiliar with the procedure/medication/equipment, or has not been checked off by the faculty as completing minimal laboratory competency levels for the procedure/medication/equipment;

6. be responsible for keeping the respiratory staff in charge of patient therapy appropriately informed;

7. contact the clinical instructor immediately of any problems concerning the administration of an assigned therapy (emergency
situations will require the student seek nursing assistance according to hospital procedures);

8. be responsible for immediately notifying the clinical instructor and supervisory staff of any incident involving a patient or student.

The student shall not:

   1. respond to emergency codes unless instructed to do so by the clinical instructor;
   2. discuss the hospital, staff, or patients in a public area at any time (inclusive of hospital and college premises along with all public community areas);
   3. leave the hospital premises until dismissed by the clinical instructor.


Other Materials: Goggles

Other Information:         June 7 - June 14 - On campus
                                      June 21    - 1st day at clinical affiliate
                                      August 9     - Last day at clinical affiliate
                                      August 16 (tentative) - Final examination

Grading: The clinical grade will be an average of the following (with corresponding weights):

 Clinical Performance - 25%
 Professional Behavior - 20%
 Clinical Notebook - 25%
 Final Examination - 20%
 Oral Presentations - 10%


 Clinical Performance
 Clinical Performance will be assessed via the Clinical Performance Rating Form at the end of the clinical rotation.  The score will comprise 25% of the final grade.

Professional Behavior
Professional Behavior will be assessed via the Professional Behavior Rating Form at the end of the clinical rotation. The score will comprise 20% of the final grade.

Clinical Notebook
All students will maintain a clinical notebook to be turned in at the end of each rotation.  The notebook will consist of subjective charting forms of patients per "SOAP" (subjective, objective, assessment, plan) format.  A maximum of 2 "SOAPs" per day will be turned in. All written work will be turned in to the clinical instructor by the next clinical day for grading.  All written work will be averaged at the end of each rotation  All outside homework assigned per clinical instructor will be averaged as a "SOAP".  Late papers will not be accepted and no make-up work is allowed.  The Clinical Notebook score will comprise 25% of the final grade.  A Clinical Activity Audit will complete the Clinical Notebook.

 Final Examination
 The final examination will be comprehensive and will comprise 20% of the final grade.

 Oral Presentations
 Each student will present an interesting case study in a formal oral presentation format. The oral presentation comprise 10% of the final grade.

 A final letter grade will be awarded according to the following:

 A = 90 - 100
 B = 80 - 89
 C = 75 - 79
 D = 67 - 74
 F = 66 and below

 A final minimum grade average of 75% must be maintained in order to continue in the Respiratory Care Program.

Schedule:
Thursday  7:00 am  -  6:00 pm (times may vary depending on clinical institution)






 
 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT



I have received a copy and have read the course document for RSPT 1167, Practicum  -
Respiratory Therapy Technician.  By signing, I indicate my understanding and willingness to comply with these regulations and requirements.
 

Student Signature_____________________  Date______________________________