Courses in Respiratory Therapy

"P" refers to a course prerequisite and "C" to a course that must be taken concurrently.

AHLT F105 Pharmacology for Respiratory Practitioners (2 cr.) P: F205, F270, and F271. A study of the accurate application of pharmacologic principles and pharmacologic agents utilized in the effective and safe diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of cardiopulmonary disease.

AHLT F181 Clinical Education I (3 cr.) P: F205, F270, and F271; concurrent enrollment in summer session II course. Practical experience conducted at a hospital affiliated with the Respiratory Therapy Program under the direct supervision of a registered respiratory therapist instructor for approximately 24 hours per week. Emphasis is on material covered in the first and second summer sessions.

AHLT F182 Clinical Education II (6 cr.) P: F105, F181, and F202; concurrent enrollment in fall courses. Practical experience conducted at a hospital affiliated with the Respiratory Therapy Program under the direct supervision of a registered respiratory therapist instructor for approximately 24 hours per week. Emphasis is on material covered in summer session I, summer session II, and the fall semester.

AHLT F202 Respiratory Care II (3 cr.) P: F205, F270, and F271. Lecture and laboratory experiences providing knowledge and skills necessary to implement effective aerosol therapy, intermittent positive pressure breathing therapy, and chest physiotherapy. Application of respiratory care to the establishment of effective pulmonary rehabilitation and home care programs is addressed.

AHLT F205 Respiratory Care I (3 cr.) Introduction to respiratory care; governing agencies; emphasis on professionalism and ethics; physical science principles; cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology; patient care; concepts of illness; microbiology and infection control.

AHLT F245 Pulmonary Diagnostics Practicum (2 cr.) This course is designed to allow students to gain experience in pulmonary function testing. Students should gain expertise in correlating pulmonary disorders with the pulmonary function interpretation.

AHLT F253 Diagnostic Testing and Monitoring (2-6 cr.) P: F105, F181, and F202. Comprehensive study of blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, cardiac and cardiovascular monitoring, and application of these diagnostic procedures to patient management.

AHLT F270 Gas Therapy (2 cr.) Lecture and laboratory course that examines the rationale, indications, hazards, and safe administration of oxygen therapy, helium-oxygen therapy, carbon dioxide therapy, and incentive spirometry.

AHLT F271 Resuscitation and Airway Management (1 cr.) A study of indications and hazards of artificial airways; emergency airway care and life-support techniques in respiratory and cardiac failure. Includes theory, demonstration, and practical application. Upon completion of this course, students are certified in Basic Cardiac Life Support for Health Care Providers.

AHLT F272 Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology (3 cr.) P: F105, F181, and F202. This course acquaints students with cardiac and pulmonary pathophysiologies applicable to respiratory care techniques and treatment methods used in clinical practice and teaches students to effectively communicate with other health care professionals.

AHLT F273 Principles and Management of Ventilators (4 cr.) P: F105, F181, and F202. Lecture and laboratory course providing in-depth study of the operational principles, application, and management of ventilators. Emphasis is placed on the appropriate management of patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

AHLT F274 Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care (3 cr.) P: F182, F253, F272, and F273. A study of neonatal and pediatric anatomy and physiology. Emphasis on care of the newborn and treatment procedures of newborns and pediatric patients with cardiopulmonary disorders.

AHLT F275 Comprehensive Clinical Education III (8 cr.) P: F182, F253, F272, and F273; concurrent enrollment in spring courses. Practical experience under the direct supervision of a registered respiratory therapist instructor, totaling approximately 32 hours per week.

AHLT F276 Case Studies and Projects in Respiratory Care (1 cr.) P: F182, F253, F272, and F273; concurrent enrollment in spring courses. Individually designed projects and case studies in education, health promotion, administration, rehabilitation, research, and/or clinical practice. Project proposals and case studies require instructor’s approval.

AHLT F311 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.

AHLT F315 Cardiorespiratory Assessment and Patient Care (2 cr.) This course focuses on basic cardiorespiratory assessment, vital signs, laboratory studies, and charting. Normal and abnormal variations are reviewed.

AHLT F325 General Respiratory Care (3 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.

AHLT F326 Respiratory Care Techniques I (2 cr.) 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.

AHLT F333 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.

AHLT F345 Respiratory Care Practicum I (1 cr.) This course applies cardiorespiratory assessment techniques, information gathering skills, and communication skills in the clinical setting.

AHLT F350 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.

AHLT F355 Advanced 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.

AHLT F356 Respiratory Care Techniques II (2 cr.) 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.

AHLT F371 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. Additionally, specialty diagnostic techniques such as X-rays, bronchoscopy, ventilation perfusion scans, and exercise testing are overviewed.

AHLT F375 Respiratory Care Practicum V (4 cr.) This clinical practicum allows students to apply assessment skills, general respiratory care, and critical respiratory care techniques to the neonatal/pediatric patient and adult critical care patient with emphasis on performance of advanced life-support techniques.

AHLT F385 Respiratory Care Practicum II (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.

AHLT F395 Respiratory Care Practicum III (3 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.

AHLT F405 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.

AHLT F420 Introduction to Research in Respiratory Care (3 cr.) This course examines research in respiratory care and applies basic statistics and concepts of research design.

AHLT F425 Case Study Review (3 cr.) Case studies for diseases involving acid-base balance, electrolyte balance, ventilatory management, and other advanced life-support techniques or procedures as applied to the cardiorespiratory system are reviewed. Emphasis is on decision-making skills.

AHLT F430 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.

AHLT F440 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (2 cr.) This course introduces students to the didactic and technical skills needed for successful proficiency of Association of Clinical Laboratory Scientists standards as set forth by the American Heart Association.

AHLT F444 Cardiorespiratory Pharmacology II (2 cr.) P: AHLT F222. An overview of pharmacologic agents and their effect on the various body systems. Drug effects on the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems are emphasized.

AHLT F445 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.

AHLT F451 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.

AHLT F456 Respiratory Care Practicum IV (4 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.

AHLT F461 Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Geriatrics (2 cr.) This course gives an overview of rehabilitation therapies and techniques applicable to chronic lung disease. Basic concepts of gerontology and geriatrics are presented.

AHLT F465 Application of Research for Respiratory Care (2 cr.) Review studies related to cardiorespiratory sciences. Conduct small group projects and literature review.

AHLT F475 Clinical Specialty II (4 cr.) Advanced clinical experiences in a specialty area of respiratory care supervised by registered respiratory therapists in varied clinical settings.

AHLT F480 Smoking Cessation Techniques (1 cr.) Theory and techniques of smoking education and cessation are presented. Attendance at seminars and community meetings required.