Critical Care II

This course builds on the structural framework of the material covered in RCP 246. It examines a variety of topics relevant to critical, adult Respiratory Care practice. Topics include a review of techniques/protocols used in the initiation, monitoring, titration, and liberation from conventional and high-frequency mechanical ventilation using physical and physiological clinical data. Calculations and formulas relevant to ventilator management and credentialing examinations will be introduced. The effects of positive pressure ventilation on cardiopulmonary and other organ systems will be covered. This course also emphasizes the correction of patient-ventilator asynchrony and the interpretation of ventilator waveforms. Additional topics include chest tubes and pleural drainage systems; and a variety of advanced and emerging oxygenation and ventilation strategies for the critical care patient. The American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification (ACLS) is attained. Clinical rotations will be an advanced, supervised clinical experience in intensive medical, surgical, pediatric, and neonatal intensive care units. Students develop practical skills in all aspects of ventilatory management, monitoring, arterial blood gases, and all other therapeutic modalities provided in intensive care. The lab component provides the application of relevant theory and practice of client care skills in a clinical simulation environment to prepare them for supervised clinical rotations in the intensive care clinical environments.