Respiratory Care Technology (RC)

RT 100 Introduction to Respiratory Care
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on fundamentals in the field of Respiratory Care. Topics include: body mechanics; medical abbreviations; safety; professional skills, responsibilities, and ethics; and medical literature searches.
Prerequisites: Respiratory Care Program Chair consent

RT 101 Respiratory Care Science 1
4 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

A course on fundamentals of pulmonary patient care. Topics include: patient assessment; appropriate administration of oxygen, humidity, and aerosol therapies; hospital safety; infection control; and medical ethics.
Prerequisites: Respiratory Care Program Chair consent

RT 102 Respiratory Care Science 2
4 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

A continuation of RT 101. Topics include: maintaining artificial airways, cleaning and sterilizing equipment, aerosol therapy, respiratory care medications, volume expansion devices, secretion mobilization, and interpreting chest radiography related to the care of the pulmonary patient.
Prerequisites: RT 100, RT 101, RT 172 (minimum grade C for all)

RT 103 Mechanical Ventilation
4 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

A course on infant and adult mechanical ventilation. Topics include: indications, assessment, application, monitoring, and modes of mechanical ventilation.
Prerequisites: RT 102, RT 111, RT 173 (minimum grade C for all)

RT 111 Respiratory Care Clinical Practice 1
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 8 Lab Hours.

Students practice using respiratory care skills in the hospital environment. Topics include: patient assessment and positioning; charting procedures; applying oxygen therapy, humidity therapy, and aerosol therapy; incentive spirometry; bronchial hygiene; airway clearance procedures; and cleaning and sterilization procedures.
Prerequisites: RT 100, RT 101, RT 172 (minimum grade C for all)

RT 112 Respiratory Care Clinical Practice 2
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 16 Lab Hours.

Students practice respiratory care skills and responsibilities in a hospital setting. Topics include: medicated aerosols, lung expansion devices, suctioning, secretion mobilization, and initiating and maintaining artificial airways.
Prerequisites: RT 102, RT 111, RT 173 (minimum grade C for all)

RT 172 Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology
4 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

A course on the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory and circulatory systems. Topics include: ventilation, diffusion, O2 and CO2 transport, acid/base balance, and fundamentals of ECG interpretation
Prerequisites: Respiratory Care Program Chair consent

RT 173 Cardiopulmonary Disease
4 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours.

A course on cardiopulmonary diseases and the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of each. Topics include: common pulmonary diseases and conditions, pulmonary function testing and interpretation, and use of testing in diagnosing pulmonary diseases.
Prerequisites: RT 100, RT 101, RT 172 (minimum grade C for all)

RT 198 First Year Special Topics in Respiratory Care
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on selected topics related to Respiratory Care, which gives students opportunities to study information not currently covered in other courses. Grades issued are A, B, C, D, or F.
Prerequisites: None

RT 199 First Year Independent Project in Respiratory Care
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A project related to Respiratory Care that is completed by one or more students to meet specific educational goals. Projects must have prior approval and supervision by Respiratory Care faculty. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: None

RT 201 Advanced Respiratory Critical Care
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on caring for the critically ill respiratory care patient. Topics include: assessment, medications, and hemodynamic monitoring used during treatment.
Prerequisites: RT 103, RT 112 (minimum grade C for both)

RT 202 Specialties in Respiratory Care
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on specialized areas of respiratory care and emerging roles for the respiratory therapist. Topics include: bronchoscopy, tracheostomy, burn care, chest tubes, metabolic testing, pulmonary rehabilitation, capnography, and other specialty areas.
Prerequisites: RT 103, RT 112 (minimum grade C for both)

RT 203 Respiratory Care Seminar
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 2 Lab Hours.

Students review theory and practice in respiratory care to prepare for national certification examinations. Topics include: ACLS, PALS, IV application, and test taking skills.
Prerequisites: RT 201, RT 202, RT 211 (minimum grade C for all)

RT 204 Respiratory Care Capstone
1 Credit. 0 Lecture Hour. 2 Lab Hours.

Students complete a research project in an approved specialty area in the field of respiratory care.
Prerequisites: RT 201, RT 202, RT 211 (minimum grade C for all)

RT 211 Respiratory Clinical Practice 3
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 16 Lab Hours.

Students practice skills and responsibilities for care of ventilator patients in the intensive care unit of a hospital. Topics include: mechanical ventilation, airway care, and an oral exam on respiratory equipment.
Prerequisites: RT 103, RT 112 (minimum grade C for both)

RT 212 Respiratory Clinical Practice 4
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 16 Lab Hours.

Students practice respiratory care skills and responsibilities in multiple healthcare settings. Clinical rotations include: newborn intensive care, hemodynamic monitoring, vascular testing, burn care, extended care facilities, homecare, hyperbaric oxygen administration, pulmonary rehabilitation, pediatric pulmonary function testing, and critical care.
Prerequisites: RT 201, RT 202, RT 211 (minimum grade C for all)

RT 298 Second Year Special Topics in Respiratory Care
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on selected topics related to Respiratory Care, which gives students opportunities to study information not currently covered in other courses. Grades issued are A, B, C, D, or F.
Prerequisites: None

RT 299 Second Year Independent Project in Respiratory Care
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A project related to Respiratory Care that is completed by one or more students to meet specific educational goals. Projects must have prior approval and supervision by Respiratory Care faculty. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: None