Respiratory Therapy Course Overview Notes

Primary Focus: Respiratory therapists (RTs) are responsible for all aspects related to breathing in a hospital setting.
- Patient Necessity: As every patient in the hospital requires breathing support, RTs address various areas of respiratory health.
- Scope of Practice: Activities include administering breathing medications, helping patients clear secretions, educating patients about their lungs, operating ventilators, and intubating patients.
Patient Interaction Range:
- From Birth to End of Life: Respiratory therapists support patients from neonatal resuscitation to withdrawal from life support.
- Solo Operative Role: Often, an RT may find themselves as the only RT in a unit, working alongside a team of doctors and nurses.

Initial Class Considerations: The first week is focused on acclimation; attendance and punctuality are not strictly tracked but will be in future weeks.
Zoom Protocols: Ensure to access the correct Zoom link for each class, especially if there are schedule changes or if a different professor covers the course.
Recording Permissions: Lectures are typically recorded, and students may record sessions with permission for personal use.

Course Setup:
- Classes will consist of pre-recorded lectures followed by discussion sessions.
- Engage actively with the course materials; do not treat the lectures passively as live experiences.
Effective Learning Strategies:
- Utilize a study guide alongside the lecture recordings.
- Pause and replay sections of the recordings for better comprehension.
- Integrate textbook reading with lecture material for deeper understanding.
- Write down questions during lectures to be addressed in Q&A sessions.

Time Investment Expectations: For every hour of class, students should expect to spend 3-4 hours studying.
- Study Methods: Include individual study, group study, and hands-on practice in the lab.
- Lectures and Course Materials: Learning will be cumulative, building on previously taught concepts.

Email Etiquette: When communicating with professors, use proper titles and signatures, including full names and credentials as appropriate.
- Professional Standards: Maintain professionalism in all correspondences, especially when emailing or during Zoom classes.

Course Requirements: Students must complete assignments to pass, and late submissions will receive no credit but must still be completed.
Grade Breakdown:
- A minimum of 78% is required to pass the course.
- Grading distribution includes lecture exams, practical assessments, and skill evaluations.
Professional Development Points: Attendance, professionalism, and participation will contribute to professional development ratings, impacting final grades.

Lab Practicals: Students must perform according to clinical settings to fulfill practical exam requirements.
Remediation Policies: If practical exam scores are below 78%, one remediation attempt is available under specified conditions.

Technical Support: Students are responsible for ensuring technical requirements are met, particularly for the Honorlock proctoring system used for quizzes.
Open Lab Utilization: Engage with faculty and utilize lab resources for hands-on practice and reinforcement of learning.

Deadline Awareness: Assignments deadline awareness is crucial; check for updates frequently.
Missing Classes: Immediate communication with instructors about absences is encouraged.

Course Structure Overview: First six weeks will be led by Professor Newberry, with transitions to Professor Chaya later in the semester.
Regular Materials Access: Check Canvas regularly for lecture materials, assignments, and communication from instructors.