RC170 — Respiratory Care Clinical II
Students will work under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor or preceptor. This second clinical practicum is an opportunity for the student to gain clinical experience and additional clinical practice for the respiratory care skills obtained in their Mechanical Ventilation and Advanced Respiratory Care courses. The student will perform direct patient care by evaluating patients’ medical records, assessing patients and administering basic care including oxygen therapy, humidity and aerosol therapy, hyperinflation therapy, and bronchial hygiene therapy. Students will interact with members of the healthcare team to optimize the patient’s care management. Students will also have the opportunity to perform blood gas puncture and analysis, and practice airway management skills. The student may be involved in emergency medical situations such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of manual resuscitators. Students will begin caring for patients needing ventilatory support, and this will provide students with opportunities to begin working with non-invasive positive pressure machines as well as providing some limited exposure to mechanical ventilators.