RTH 110 - Introduction to Respiratory Care

2 Credits, 2 Contact Hours
2 lecture periods 0 lab periods
Introduction to the field of respiratory care and to the skills for being a successful, confident college student. Includes study strategies, college resources, time management, life choices, respiratory care practice settings, elements of effective team dynamics, communication with diverse populations, and ethical decision making and professional responsibility.

Corequisite(s): RTH 156  
Information: Students mus meet all pre-admission requirements for the PCC Respiratory Therapy Program and receive final approval to register for this course. Please see a program advisor.
    

1. Identify and apply appropriate study strategies to successfully complete course assignments and exams.
2. Locate and use relevant in-person and online college resources.
3. Analyze and develop productive time management strategies.
4. Identify and prepare for life choices and goals.
5. Identify and describe the broad variety of Respiratory Therapy practice settings.  
6. Identify and describe skills necessary to function within inter-professional teams.  
7. Demonstrate the ability to communication effectively with diverse populations. 
8. Demonstrate competency in the application of ethical decision-making and professional responsibility.     

1. Study Strategies
   1. Textbook reading approach(es)
   2. Memory and concentration
   3. Attentive listening
   4. Organization of lecture/text material
   5. Note taking system(s)
   6. Test taking strategies
   7. Use of college resources
2. College Resources
   1. College catalog
   2. Schedule of classes
   3. Academic advising
   4. Counseling services
   5. Library
   6. PCC online resources
   7. MyPima
   8. Student handbook
   9. Academic Computer Commons
   10. Financial aid

1. Time Management
   1. Personal analysis
   2. Creating a realistic balance
   3. Procrastination
   4. Using calendars, schedules, to-do lists, etc.
2. Life Choices
   1. Goals - academic, career, personal
   2. Level of commitment and motivation
   3. Growth mindset - emotional, intellectual, and personal
3. Respiratory Care Practice Settings
   1. Acute-care
   2. Long-term care
   3. Home care
   4. Outpatient clinic settings
   5. Case management
   6. Public health and research
4. Elements of Effective High-Performance Team Dynamics
   1. Roles
   2. What to communicate
   3. How to communicate
5. Communicate Effectively with Diverse Populations
   1. Caring for the elderly in a multicultural society
   2. American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) position statements on cultural diversity
   3. Cultural and ethnic considerations of respiratory practice
6. Ethical Decision Making and Professional Responsibility
   1. Making sound ethical decisions in practice
   2. American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) statement of ethics and professional conduct  
   3. State licensure standards of practice and responsibilities