Respiratory Care
Respiratory Care is an allied health specialty dealing with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with acute and chronic diseases affecting the pulmonary system. Respiratory Therapists (RT’s) predominantly work in acute and subacute clinical settings, playing an integral role as a member of the healthcare team working in the critical care units caring for patients who are facing a life-threatening phase of their illness. RT’s administer medications and therapies, provide life-support measures to all patient populations, manage and maintain patients on complex ventilator systems, assist physicians with advanced procedures, perform diagnostic tests, and support patients living with chronic lung disease via pulmonary rehabilitation and home care. Growing areas of and specialties within the profession include adult intensive care, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, fiberoptic and interventional bronchoscopies, pulmonary function testing, home care, pulmonary rehabilitation, management, education, and research.
Department Contact Information
Alison Riggio, Program Director,
ariggio@occ.cccd.edu
Christina Montano, Director of Clinical Education,
cmontano@occ.cccd.edu
Credit Courses
RSPC A1853 Units (54 lecture hours)
Respiratory Anatomy and Physiology
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Anatomy and physiology of the cardiopulmonary system with emphasis on function & clinical assessment by respiratory therapists. Includes pulmonary and cardiac anatomy, pulmonary ventilatory mechanics, pulmonary blood flow, oxygenation transport, hypoxemia and hypoxia, carbon dioxide transport, acid-base balance and regulation of respiration.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A185
RSPC A1903 Units (36 lecture hours; 54 lab hours)
Basic Respiratory Care Equipment
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Theories of equipment operation, procedures, and use for treatment of cardiopulmonary disease, including the use of humidity and aerosol, oxygen, infection control, hyperinflation techniques, basic ventilatory measurement, respirators, chest physiotherapy, and equipment related to compressed gases. Emphasis is placed on clinical application of equipment & techniques.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A190
RSPC A1911.5 Units (81 lab hours)
Clinical Lab 1
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A190.
Grading Mode: Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Beginning clinical practice of procedures presented in Respiratory Care A190. Includes hospital and respiratory therapy department orientation, patient chart evaluation, use of compressed gases, medical gas therapy, humidity and aerosol therapy, drug administration, aseptic technique and adherence to infection control procedures and isolation precautions, incentive spirometry, airway clearance and lung expansion therapies, and patient assessment. Offered on a pass-no pass basis only.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A191
RSPC A1922.5 Units (144 lab hours)
Clinical Lab 2
Grading Mode: Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Continued applications of procedures and concepts of basic clinical therapy presented in the first year of the respiratory care program. Application and skills evaluations in advanced administration of aerosol therapy, pharmacological agents, airway clearance, medical gases, arterial blood gas sampling, and patient assessment. Offered on a pass-no pass basis only.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A192
RSPC A1951 Unit (18 lecture hours)
Respiratory Pharmacology
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A195
RSPC A1960.5 Units (9 lecture hours)
Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation
Co-requisite(s): RSPC A192.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Introduction to the foundational elements of mechanical ventilation. Includes initiation, modalities, physiologic assessment and patient weaning in addition to the basic clinical preparation and legal documentation necessary in the care of patients requiring ventilatory support.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A196
RSPC A2121 Unit (18 lecture hours; 9 lab hours)
Topics in Neonates
Prerequisite(s): Students need to be graduates of the OCC Respiratory Care Program or both a licensed Respiratory Care Practitioners by the Respiratory Care Board of California and Registered Respiratory Therapists by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC); Students must possess their NRP and PALS AHA life support certifications.
Grading Mode: Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU.
This course will help prepare the student for employment in the neonatal intensive care unit. Offered on a pass-no pass basis only. This course may also be offered online.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A212
RSPC A2221 Unit (72 lab hours)
Advanced Clinical Practice in Neonates
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A212.
Grading Mode: Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Clinical experience in an affiliated neonatal intensive care unit under the supervision of licensed respiratory care practitioners and health care personnel. Emphasis on independent respiratory management and decision making when caring for the neonatal patient population. Professional growth and advanced skills are expected. Offered on a pass-no pass basis only.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A222
RSPC A2551 Unit (18 lecture hours)
Home Care and Rehabilitation
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A190.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Techniques and operation of respiratory home care and pulmonary rehabilitation. Includes special equipment set-up, patient and family education, patient evaluation, and care of the ventilator dependent patient at home. Also includes regulations of home care and third party reimbursement.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A255
RSPC A2602 Units (36 lecture hours; 18 lab hours)
Arterial Blood Gases, Theory and Practice
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A185.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Interpretation of arterial blood gases, arterial puncture technique, blood gas analysis. Interpretation of fluid and electrolyte imbalances, renal physiology on acid base control. Phlebotomy theory.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A260
RSPC A2653 Units (54 lecture hours)
Pulmonary Pathology
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A185.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
The study of cardiopulmonary disease processes with emphasis on pathophysiology, manifestations, and treatment. Relates each disease state to evaluation, testing, and treatment.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A265
RSPC A2703 Units (36 lecture hours; 54 lab hours)
Ventilators and Respiratory Management
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A260.
Co-requisite(s): RSPC A276.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Principles and techniques in the management of patients requiring ventilatory support. Includes mechanical descriptions of ventilators in common use (including laboratory demonstrations and hands on practice), as well as patient assessment for need for ventilatory support along with assessment for changes in ventilatory support techniques.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A270
RSPC A2753 Units (54 lecture hours; 18 lab hours)
Respiratory Care Procedures
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A185.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Respiratory care procedures, including physical assessment of the chest, chest x-ray assessment, airway management, bronchoscopy, chest tube drainage, electrocardiogram performance and interpretation, and ALS procedures.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A275
RSPC A2764.5 Units (243 lab hours)
Clinical Lab 3
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A192.
Grading Mode: Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Clinical application of procedures & concepts from RSPC A260, RSPC A270 and RSPC A275, continuing experience in the skills from RSPC A191 and RSPC A192. Includes ABG puncture & analysis, airway management, artificial airways, bronchial hygiene, bronchoscopy, ventilatory management, patient assessment, monitoring, & other therapeutic measures related to patient treatment. Offered on a pass-no pass basis only.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A276
RSPC A2781 Unit (18 lecture hours; 18 lab hours)
Pulmonary Case Assessment
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A276.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Assessment of critical pulmonary patients with emphasis on assessment techniques, critical care procedures, and management techniques as applied to case studies. Includes use of both actual and simulated patient scenarios using information gathering and decision making by the Respiratory Care Practitioner.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A278
RSPC A2790.5 Units (9 lecture hours)
Physician Series 1
Co-requisite(s): RSPC A276.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Physician presentations on current topics in pulmonary medicine emphasizing patient assessment and treatment. Discussion with physicians about individual clinical problems.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A279
RSPC A2802 Units (36 lecture hours)
Advanced Monitoring, Procedures and Therapies in Critical Care
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A270.
Co-requisite(s): RSPC A286.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Theory, use, and application of medical techniques used to monitor cardiopulmonary status. Advanced procedures and therapies used in the diagnosis and treatment of the critically ill cardiopulmonary patient. Includes capnography, transcutaneous assessment and hemodynamic monitoring.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A280
RSPC A2851 Unit (18 lecture hours; 18 lab hours)
Pulmonary Function Testing
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A265.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Theory and application of pulmonary function testing by mechanical and electronic devices.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A285
RSPC A2864 Units (240 lab hours)
Clinical Lab 4
Prerequisite(s): RSPC A276.
Grading Mode: Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Clinical application of respiratory therapy primarily in critical care areas. Includes airway management, patient assessment, ventilator mechanics and management, and monitoring of the critically ill patient. Offered on a pass-no pass basis only.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A286
RSPC A2872.5 Units (144 lab hours)
Clinical Internship
Co-requisite(s): RSPC A286.
Grading Mode: Pass/No Pass
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Advanced clinical utilization of knowledge and skills in critical care or specialty areas. Cumulative application of assessment, diagnostic, therapeutic, and judgmental skills acquired within the Respiratory Care Program. Offered on a pass-no pass basis only.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A287
RSPC A2902 Units (28 lecture hours; 28 lab hours)
Neonatal Intensive Care
Co-requisite(s): RSPC A286.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Theory and practice of neonatal intensive respiratory care with emphasis on the role of the R.C.P. Includes fetal anatomy and physiology, delivery and assessment, resuscitation, neonatal pathologies, respiratory care diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and techniques for mechanical ventilation. Provider approved C.B.R.N, CEP #12655 for 56 hours.
Catalog Program Pages Referencing RSPC A290
RSPC A2961 Unit (18 lecture hours)
Respiratory Care Board Review
Co-requisite(s): RSPC A278.
Grading Mode: Standard Letter
Transfer Credit: CSU.
Comprehensive categorical review of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in Respiratory Care to prepare for national certification, national registry, and state licensing board examinations.