Respiratory Survey
Learning Objectives
- Define the role of a respiratory therapist and describe their scope of practice.
- Identify key professional organizations (e.g., AARC, NBRC) and explain their role in advancing the respiratory care profession.
- Demonstrate knowledge of state licensure and certification requirements for respiratory care practitioners.
- Explain the importance of ethical and legal standards in clinical practice, including patient confidentiality and other legal implications.
- Describe the principles of infection control and their application in respiratory care settings.
- Differentiate between cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization methods for respiratory equipment.
- Identify modes of pathogen transmission and implement appropriate protective measures to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
- Demonstrate proper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) following CDC guidelines.
- Identify and mitigate common patient safety risks.
- Explain the principles of fire safety in health care settings.
- Apply safety protocols during emergency situations, including evacuation procedures.
- Describe the benefits and risks of certain patient positions such as Fowlers, Trendelenburg, etc.
- Use effective communication strategies to build rapport with patients and health care teams.
- Obtain a comprehensive respiratory history from patients, including past medical history, family history, and social history.
- Perform a physical examination, including vital signs, along with a focus on the respiratory system, identifying key findings such as breath sounds and chest expansion.
- Document patient assessments and findings using the SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) format.
- Explain the principles of pulse oximetry, including its limitations and potential sources of error.
- Demonstrate the correct technique for measuring oxygen saturation using a pulse oximeter.
- Conduct a thorough pulmonary examination, including inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
