Course Descriptions
Respiratory Therapy
- PULM-F 303 Introduction to Human Disease for Respiratory Therapists (2 cr.) This course gives respiratory therapy students a general introduction to a broad variety of human diseases. Etiology, diagnosis, and treatment will be discussed.
- PULM-F 311 Cardiorespiratory Physiology (3 cr.) This course focuses on the normal anatomy and physiology of the cardiorespiratory system, including lung mechanics, ventilation, perfusion, diffusion, gas transport, and acid-base balance.
- PULM-F 315 Cardiorespiratory Assessment and Patient Care (3 cr.) Basic cardiorespiratory assessment, vital signs, laboratory studies, and charting. Includes required preclinical skills and practice.
- PULM-F 325 General Respiratory Care (4 cr.) This course focuses on basic respiratory therapy procedures. Physiologic applications, effects on the cardiopulmonary system, and hazards for each therapeutic procedure are discussed. Topics include physical principles, airway care, humidity and aerosol therapy, medical gas therapy, hyperinflation therapy, and chest physical therapy.
- PULM-F 326 Respiratory Care Techniques I (2 cr.) C: PULM F325. This course focuses on the most important clinical laboratory procedures and on procedures used by the respiratory therapist. Specifically, this course instructs students in patient assessment, oxygen administration, humidity and aerosol therapy, chest physical therapy, hyperinflation therapy, and monitoring expired gas.
- PULM-F 333 Cardiorespiratory Pharmacology I (2 cr.) This course provides an overview of the basics of pharmacology therapeutics, focusing on dosages and solutions and bronchodilator drugs. Indications, side effects, mechanism of action, and route of administration are discussed.
- PULM-F 350 Cardiorespiratory Diseases (3 cr.) This course outlines general cardiorespiratory diseases of the adult, including acute and chronic disorders. Respiratory therapeutics applied to these diseases are discussed.
- PULM-F 355 Life Support (3 cr.) This course includes care of the artificial airway, cardiovascular monitoring and supportive therapy, principles of ventilatory care, and maintenance as well as physiologic effects and complications of airway pressure therapy.
- PULM-F 356 Respiratory Care Techniques II (2 cr.) C: PULM F355. This course focuses on the most important clinical laboratory procedures and equipment used by the respiratory therapist to support critically ill patients. Specifically, this course instructs students in mechanical ventilators, pressure and heart rate monitors, pulmonary mechanics devices, and arterial blood gas sampling.
- PULM-F 371 Pulmonary Diagnostics (3 cr.) This course outlines and discusses both normal and abnormal lung volumes and capacities, mechanics of ventilation, inspiratory and expiratory flows, and diffusion of the lung. Additional specialty.
- PULM-F 385 Respiratory Care Practicum I (3 cr.) This course applies cardiopulmonary assessment techniques, information gathering, and communication skills in providing general respiratory care in the clinical setting, including medical gas, humidity and aerosol therapy delivery, and treatment modalities.
- PULM-F 395 Respiratory Care Practicum II (4 cr.) This clinical practicum introduces students to variations in oxygen delivery and basic mechanical ventilation. Treatment modalities and hemodynamic monitoring on mechanically ventilated patients will be integrated.
- PULM-F 405 Neonatal-Pediatric Respiratory Care (3 cr.) This course outlines fetal physiology, cardiorespiratory transition, and respiratory management of neonatal pathologies, including respiratory distress syndrome. Cardiorespiratory techniques for the pediatric patient as well as pediatric trauma and transport are reviewed.
- PULM-F 410 Independent Study/Respiratory Therapy (2 cr.) An opportunity for the student of respiratory therapy to identify a relevant area of concern within the field and to develop a tangible solution to or outcome of the concern. Reports and discussion by the students and faculty.
- PULM-F 420 Introduction to Research in Respiratory Care (2 cr.) This course examines research in respiratory care and applies basic statistics and concepts of research design.
- PULM-F 430 Management and Leadership for Respiratory Care (3 cr.) Specific theory and practice applied to directing and managing a respiratory therapy department, including the managerial functions of budgeting, controlling, organization, planning, staffing, and coordinating. Leadership and skills pertinent to these functions as well as effective communication and professionalism are included.
- PULM-F 440 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (2 cr.) This course introduces students to the didactic and technical skills needed for successful proficiency of Advanced Cardiac Life Support standards as set forth by the American Heart Association.
- PULM-F 444 Cardiorespiratory Pharmacology II (2 cr.) P: PULM F333. An overview of pharmacologic agents and their effect on the various body systems. Drug effects on the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems are emphasized.
- PULM-F 445 Seminar in Cardiorespiratory Care (1-5 cr.) Seminar is designed to meet the specialty selected by the student. Students may repeat this course with a new specialty area requested. Each student is required to take a minimum of one hour and a maximum of five hours.
- PULM-F 451 Cardiorespiratory Monitoring and Special Techniques (3 cr.) This course reviews electrocardiograms, intracranial pressure monitoring, capnography, and pulmonary artery monitoring techniques. Case studies emphasizing these special procedures are presented.
- PULM-F 456 Respiratory Care Practicum III (6 cr.) This course allows students to apply advanced patient assessment techniques, information gathering skills, and communication and leadership skills in the neonatal/pediatric and adult critical care clinical settings.
- PULM-F 461 Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Geriatrics (3 cr.) This course gives an overview of rehabilitation therapies and techniques applicable to chronic lung disease, as well as respiratory therapy home care. Basic concepts of gerontology and geriatrics are presented.
- PULM-F 480 Patient Education Techniques for Respiratory Therapists (3 cr.) Education techniques for patients and families dealing with chronic respiratory disease. Topics include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and smoking cessation education. Assessment of learning readiness, reading levels, and patient comprehension will be addressed.
- PULM-F 485 Respiratory Care Practicum IV (6 cr.) Students will manage patients in critical care settings with emphasis on cardiopulmonary assessment and monitoring. They will participate in pulmonary rehabilitation, home care, advanced cardiac life support, pulmonary functions, polysomnography, and other special procedures.