Practicum III - Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist Syllabus for 2020-2021
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

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If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

RSPT-2266-001 Practicum III - Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RSPT 1167

Course Description

Practical, general workplace training supported by an individualized plan developed by the employer, college and student.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 20 practicum)

Class Type

Clinical

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Supplies

1. Appropriate clinical attire (scrubs with embroidered AC logo, photo ID)
2. Stethoscope
3. Glasses

Student Performance

End-of-Course Outcomes:  As outlined in the learning plan, apply the theory, concepts, and skills involving specialized materials, tools, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws, and interactions within and among political, economic, environmental, social, and legal systems associated with the occupation and the business/industry and will demonstrate legal and ethical behavior, safety practices, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and appropriate written and verbal communication skills using the terminology of the occupation and the business/industry.

1. Complete 4 Case Studies.
2. Attend assigned simulations at SimCentral.
3. Apply acquired concepts in the clinical setting.
4. Demonstrate psychomotor skills to complete all objectives (competencies) required in this course.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the therapist in the following areas:
   • patient/therapy assessment for respiratory care protocol implementation
   • sleep disorder studies
   • supervision/management
   • pulmonary function testing
   • pediatric therapy, including critical care
   • cardiopulmonary diagnostics
   • perinatal/neonatal therapy, including critical care
   • adult critical care
   • cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
   • physician rounds
   • emergency department
   • medical physiology
   • long term acute care

During the semester required to complete RSPT 2266, the student will be assigned to different rotations at several clinical affiliates. Each rotation has specific objectives that must be completed. There are three types of objectives: 1) practical, where procedures are performed or observed; 2) oral, where topics related to the rotation are discussed with an instructor and 3) written, where a related topic is discussed or a procedure is described, etc. Each individual objective must be signed off and all objectives must be achieved for the rotation to be considered complete.

To earn credit for each rotation, the signature of the AC clinical instructor in charge of that rotation must be obtained on the Clinical Objectives area in Trajecsys.  All documentation must be submitted within one week of the end of the rotation.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Students are expected to exhibit professional behavior while in the clinical setting.  Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the clinical facility.  Return to the facility requires the approval of the Program Director, Director of Clinical Education and the facility Department Manager.
 

Grading Criteria

For a grade of C students must:

1. Successfully complete all rotation objectives and clinical hours and obtain the instructor’s signature/preceptor's signature on each Completion of Clinical Objectives in Trajecsys.
2. Verify the required number of Physician Contact hours.
3. Complete four case studies (one of which must be presented orally) and assigned SimCentral simulations with an average of at least 70.
4. Maintain passing scores on 85% of performance evaluations completed by hospital personnel and/or clinical instructors with no more than 5 “Needs Improvements” marked during the semester.
5. Have no more than 3 absences during the semester and follow the proper procedure as described in the AC Respiratory Care Student Handbook for notifying both clinical affiliates and clinical instructors of absences.
6. Have no more than 2 schedule changes during the semester and follow the proper procedure as described in the AC Respiratory Care Student Handbook for rescheduling.
7. Score at least 80% for events at SimCentral.
8. Complete a Journal entry for each rotation.
9. Complete evaluations of all assigned rotations and selected adjunct instructors.
10. Turn in all documentation** within 1 week of the completion date for that rotation.  Failure to do so will result in a drop of 1 letter grade.  Documentation from the final clinic rotation is due by noon (1200) on Tuesday of Final Week.

   For a grade of B students must:

1. Successfully complete all rotation objectives and clinical hours and obtain the instructor’s signature/preceptor's signature on each Completion of Clinical Objectives in Trajecsys.
2. Verify the required number of physician contact points.
3. Complete four case studies (one of which must be presented orally) and assigned SimCentral simulations with an average of at least 80.
4. Maintain passing scores on 90% of performance evaluations completed by hospital personnel and/or clinical instructors with no more than 3 “Needs Improvements” marked during the semester.
5. Have no more than 2 absences during the semester and follow the proper procedure as described in the AC Respiratory Care Student Handbook for notifying both clinical affiliates and clinical instructors of absences.
6. Have no more than 2 schedule changes during the semester and follow the proper procedure as described in the AC Respiratory Care Student Handbook for rescheduling.
7. Score at least 90% for events at SimCentral.
8. Complete a Journal entry for each rotation.
9. Complete evaluations of all assigned rotations and selected adjunct instructors.
10. Turn in all documentation** within 1 week of the completion date for that rotation.  Failure to do so will result in a drop of 1 letter grade.  Documentation from the final clinic rotation is due by noon (1200) on Tuesday of Final Week.

For a grade of A students must:

1. Successfully complete all rotation objectives and clinical hours and obtain the instructor’s signature/preceptor's signature on each Completion of Clinical Objectives in Trajecsys.
2. Verify the required number of physician contact points.
3. Complete four case studies (one of which must be presented orally) and assigned SimCentral simulations with an average of at least 90.
4. Maintain passing scores on all performance evaluations completed by hospital personnel and/or clinical instructors with no “Needs Improvements” marked during the semester.
5. Have no more than 1 absence during the semester.
6. Have no more than 1 schedule change during the semester.
7. Score 100% for events at SimCentral.
8. Complete a Journal entry for each rotation.
9. Complete evaluations of all assigned rotations and selected adjunct instructors.
10. Turn in all documentation** within 1 week of the completion date for that rotation.  Failure to do so will result in a drop of 1 letter grade.  Documentation from the final clinic rotation is due by noon (1200) on Tuesday of Final Week. 

SimCentral Grading

Each student will be assigned two (2) shifts at SimCentral during the semester, with a score of 50% each.  In the event a scheduled shift is missed, every attempt will be made to schedule a makeup.  The score for the makeup shift will be 30%. Ten percent (10%) will be deducted from the grade for each occurance of the following:

1. Arriving late or leaving early
2. Non-conformance to dress code
3. Any unacceptable behavior, including, but not limited to cell phone use and inadequate participation of your expected role

Attendance

See Grading Criteria for attendance requirements.

Following a missed scheduled clinical shift, students must follow the proper procedure as described in the AC Respiratory Care Student Handbook for notifying both the clinical affiliate and the clinical instructor. It will then be the student's responsibility to reschedule the missed hours through the instructor in charge of that rotation.

All missed clinical hours must be rescheduled.  Failure to follow the proper procedure or reschedule missed clinical shifts will result in a grade of F for the course.

Cases of excessive absences will be handled on an individual basis and will require a counseling session. Following this session, a departmental counseling form will be placed in the student's file. The purpose of this form is to documentation that the student has been made aware that excessive absences are jeopardizing successful completion of the clinical course.

Students attending clinic will sign in using the Trajecsys system with GPS enabled.  In the event of internet failure, the student MUST obtain the lead therapist's signature on all time sheets.

Inclement Weather

In the event Amarillo College is closed due to inclement weather, you will not be required to attend clinic, nor will you be required to make up the clinic day.  If you are already at clinic when classes are cancelled, it will be your decision to either stay or leave.  If you decide to stay, you may not substitute that day for another scheduled clinic day.  If you leave or do not have to attend, you may not use this as a reason for not completing the clinical objectives.  If AC does not cancel classes and you do not attend clinic, it will be counted as an absence.

Calendar

Additional Information

Definitions

• Clinical absence is defined as missing a scheduled clinical shift, due to illness, etc.
• Schedule change is a change in the clinical schedule which occurs after the semester schedule is posted on Blackboard.
• Pre-approved schedule change is the anticipation of an change in schedule when the hours that will be missed are made up prior to the originally scheduled clinical shift.  A Pre-approved schedule change does not impact the final course grade.

Case Studies

The required number of Physician Contact hours is equal to the number of Friday lectures/case study presentations scheduled.  One (1) Friday lectures/case study presentation may be missed but it must be made up by attending three (3) of the following, in any combination, but no more than two (2) of any event:

• bronchoscopy
• C-section
• chest tube insertion
• trans-esophageal echogram
• elective cardioversion
• conscious sedation
• thoracentesis
• hospital-inservice (during which a CERT is given for therapists)

In the event that more than one (1) Physician Lecture is missed, the final clinic grade will be dropped one (1) letter grade for each unattended lecture.

There will be a penalty imposed for late arrivals to Physician Lecture, outlined in the following table:

Arrival Time           Required make-up
1300 - 1314           Attendance of 1 procedure from the list above
1315 - 1329           Attendance of 2 procedures from the list above
1330 or later          Attendance of 3 procedures from the list above

All Physician Contact must be documented on the Physician Contact form.

Evaluation of Rotation and Adjunct Instructors

At the end of each clinical rotation, students are required to complete an evaluation of the rotation and 2-3 RT clinical preceptors. This is part of a continuous program evaluation required by the accrediting organization, the Committee on Accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC).

Remediation Policy

Remediation is required if a student is not judged to be performing at the program's expected levels of competence.  Unsatisfactory performance may be indicated on the Student Evaluations or in other written communications between Adjunct Faculty and the student.  Remediation will be required when any rating on the Student Evaluations is a "Does Not Meet Objective". Based on this information, a remedial plan will be developed by the Director of Clinical Education, to include, but not be limited to:

• counselling sessions
• review of procedures
• laboratory practice
• supervised demonstration

Once the student has remediated to the satisfaction of the DCE, the student may re-enter the clinic.