Respiratory Care/Therapy - Key Terms (Vocabulary flashcards)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Respiratory Care/Therapy notes.

Respiratory Care/Therapy

A health care discipline that promotes optimal heart–lung function.

Respiratory Therapists (RTs)

Professionals trained to prevent, identify, and treat breathing disorders.

Roles of RTs

Patient assessment, treatment, diagnostic testing, disease prevention, and health promotion.

Typical RT work settings

Hospitals (about 75%), clinics, nursing homes, research, home care, and teaching.

Globalization in RT

RTs now work worldwide due to rising chronic respiratory diseases.

First respiratory specialists (1940s)

Oxygen technicians.

1950s–60s RT development

Training programs for inhalation therapists began.

Standard title for RT

Respiratory Therapist (RT) became the standard title in 1974.

RT responsibilities today

Oxygen therapy, aerosols, ventilation, airway care, diagnostics, and patient education.

Hospitals oxygen use began

Widely used in the 1940s.

Common oxygen delivery devices

Nasal cannula, simple mask, Venturi mask, non-rebreather mask.

Home oxygen therapy options

Portable oxygen concentrators, liquid oxygen, conserving devices.

Oxygen survival benefit population

Beneficial for patients with severe hypoxemia; not for mild COPD.

Aerosols in respiratory care

Liquid or powder drugs delivered by inhalation.

Drugs delivered by aerosol

Bronchodilators, steroids, mucolytics, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories.

Aerosol delivery devices

Nebulizers, dry powder inhalers, metered-dose inhalers.

Main benefit of aerosol therapy

Fast local effect with fewer systemic side effects.

Ventilators

Provide breathing support in acute or chronic respiratory failure.

Two main ventilator types

Negative-pressure (iron lung) and positive-pressure (modern).

Ventilation modes

Assist/control, IMV, SIMV, pressure support, PEEP, PRVC, NAVA.

Major complication of mechanical ventilation

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Airway management

Techniques and devices to keep the airway open.

Airway management devices

Endotracheal tubes, tracheostomy, laryngoscopes for intubation.

Modern improvements in airway devices

Soft tubes, suction catheters, low-pressure cuffs, double-lumen tubes.

Spirometry measures

Vital capacity (VC) and FEV1 for obstructive/restrictive disease assessment.

Blood gas analysis measures

PaO2, PaCO2, and pH.

Pulse oximetry measures

Non-invasive measurement of oxygen saturation.

Polysomnography test

Tests for sleep disorders.

AARC

American Association for Respiratory Care; main professional body for science, education, and advocacy.

Respiratory Care Week

Annual awareness event each October.

BOMA

Board of Medical Advisors; physicians guiding patient-care standards.

ARCF

American Respiratory Care Foundation; supports research, scholarships, education.

ICRC

International Council for Respiratory Care; promotes global training and collaboration.

NBRC

National Board for Respiratory Care; provides credentials (CRT, RRT, specialty exams).

CoARC

Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care; accredits education programs.

RT training began

1950.

Minimum degree for RT programs

Associate degree.

Importance of bachelor’s/master’s degrees

Needed for management, education, research, and advanced practice.

RTs as physician extenders

Making care plans and ventilator adjustments under supervision.

Trends shaping RT education

More focus on patient education, prevention, wellness, smoking cessation, pulmonary rehab, and critical care.