Respiratory Care Patient Assessment Syllabus for 2026-2027
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

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 Enrollment Center, Suite 700. 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.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

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:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

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.

Privacy Statement

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 .

Statement on State-Authorized Courses at Amarillo College

For-credit academic and workforce education courses offered at Amarillo College are limited to the course options available in the statewide inventory for two-year public institutions. Courses in the state-authorized lower-division Academic Course Guide Manual and Workforce Education Course Manual have specific descriptions that prescribe course content and may include specific student learning outcomes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) maintains and regularly updates these manuals. Amarillo College faculty and leaders ensure that these courses are aligned with THECB guidelines and evaluated based on student performance outcomes. Students enrolled in these courses are expected to engage with and learn course content. According to the AC Board of Regents Policy Manual, "faculty members are entitled to academic freedom in the conduct of research and teaching and are tasked with the associated responsibilities" (DGC). Students are entitled to academic freedom in the classroom, as well, and faculty "must not attempt to force on students a personal viewpoint and must at all times allow diversity of opinion" (Amarillo College Academic Affairs Manual).

Course

RSPT-2358-001 Respiratory Care Patient Assessment

Prerequisites

Course Description

Integration of patient examination techniques, including patient history and physical exam, lab studies, x-ray, pulmonary function, arterial blood gases, and invasive and noninvasive hemodynamics.

Student Resources Student 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

Hours

(3 sem hrs 3 lec )

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Wilkins, Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care, current edition

Kacmarek, Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care, current edition

Cairo, Pilbeam's Mechanical Ventilation, current edition

Class Notes (posted in Blackboard)

Supplies

Laptop computer with Internet/WiFi capability for in-class online testing

Spiral notebook or loose-leaf paper or printed notes/power points

pen/pencil 

Student Performance

End-of-Course Outcomes:  Interpret patient history and physical exam; evaluate lab studies, x-ray, pulmonary function, arterial blood gases, and invasive and noninvasive hemodynamics.

Given the course textbook, personal notes, handouts, and other learning activities, the student should:

1. Demonstrate ability to perform cardiopulmonary patient assessment, including physical, laboratory, and neurological assessment.
2. Interpret clinical laboratory test results, including normal values, causes and treatments for abnormal values.
3. Identify normal and abnormal lung and heart sounds through auscultation.
4. List and describe indications and contrindications for chest drainage & the placement of chest tubes.
5. Describe the types of drainage systems.
6. Describe care of patients with closed-chest drainage.
7. Describe methods used to analyze expired CO2 & be able to interpret capnograms.
8. List indications for bronchoscopy (rigid and flexible).
9. Describe the bronchoscopy procedure (rigid and flexible), including methods, equipment and complications associated with the procedure.
10. Describe systemic arterial line, central venous line, and pulmonary artery catheter line placement.
11. Identify normal values and waveform configurations of systemic arterial lines, central venous lines, and pulmonary artery catheter lines when in proper placement. 

A minimum grade of "C" must be earned by each student to successfully complete the goals of this course.

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

Grading Criteria

Required Work

1. Five (5) major exams
2. OneVisionRC modules
3. Weekly quizzes
4. Unannounced quizes

The grading scale for this course is:

A  =  90 - 100
B  =  80 - 89
C  =  75 - 79
F  =  score less than 75

Description of Grading Components

1. Graded quizzes, worth 10 points each, will occur weekly. Any student present for all quizzes will have one quiz grade dropped.

2. Each examination/quiz/assignment will have a specific number of points awarded for correct answers. The number of points earned by a student will be divided by the maximum possible points. The result will be expressed as a percent and converted to a grade.

3. The only extra credit offered in this course will be extra credit questions on the major exams.

4. Nothing in this course will be curved.

5. Rounding of scores will take place as follows:  0.5 will round up to the next highest whole number, ex. 74.5 = 75.0.  74.4 will NOT round up.

6. At least 10% of the questions on major exams will come from the reading assignments.

7. Grades will be posted in Blackboard.

8. Total possible course points may change as assignments are added throughout the semester.

Students must score a 74.5% exam average in order to pass this course. The course grade that is visible in Blackboard will be your exam average until the end of the course. If your exam average is 74.5% or higher, grades from all other assignments and quizzes will be added in to the final course grade.  The final course grade will be calculated based on the following: Final Exam counts for 25% of final course grade, Major Exams count for 50% of final course grade and Quizzes count for 25% of final course grade. 

Keep in mind that grades are not given.  Grades are EARNED based on student performance.  Often the instructor plays no role in the grading process other than recording.  Please be careful to note the requirements for earning the grade you desire and act accordingly throughout the semester.  

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Every member of the Amarillo College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted for credit is expected to be the student’s own work. Amarillo College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student or program applicant accused of scholastic dishonesty. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list, and scholastic dishonesty may encompass other conduct, including any misconduct through electronic or computerized means. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, one (1) or more of the following acts:

1. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, intentionally or unintentionally having access to and/or using unauthorized materials identified by the faculty member, including, but not limited to, material generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs and content generators, or electronic, digital media, telecommunication, and/or wearable devices (e.g., laptops, phones, smartwatches, Fitbits, Bluetooth devices, tablets) to complete a quiz, examination, or class assignment; receiving information in an unauthorized manner during a quiz or examination or to complete an assignment; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing, or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance; using information about exams posted on the internet or in any electronic medium; violating a faculty member’s and/or the Testing Center’s testing policies and procedures; leaving a test site without permission; failing to secure test materials; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site; using someone else’s work for an assignment in whole or in part as if it were one’s own (e.g., turning in a copy of someone else’s work as one’s own work, or incorporating text generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs or content generators as one’s own writing); submitting academic work in whole or in part for more than one (1) assignment, class, or institution without the faculty member’s permission (i.e., recycling an assignment or self-plagiarism); using annotated texts or teacher’s editions; making false statements or omissions related to applications for enrollment, credit or classwork, research, or the award of a degree; falsifying academic records or documents; and attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course through any other dishonest means.
    
2. Collusion includes, but is not limited to, intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty; failing to secure academic work; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; collaborating with or communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or course assignment without the faculty member’s permission; and allowing a classmate to copy answers.
    
3. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, intentionally or unintentionally failing to quote and cite words, information, and/or ideas taken from a source(s) in accordance with a citation style approved by the faculty member and/or inadequately paraphrasing.

Testing Procedure

All exams will be administered using Respondus Lockdown Browser to ensure exam integrity.

During the testing period, the student may take a break, however, no additional time will be allowed for the test.  Only one student at a time may leave the testing room.  After completion of a major exam, the student will not be allowed to wait for the next class in the laboratory or hallway.  The student must either sit quietly in their seat until all students are finished or exit the building.

Calculators may be used during class and exams. The instructor will provide the calculators.

The Program has 1 "loaner" computer for testing. If your laptop fails to log in, the loaner will be available on a first-come, first serve basis. If the loaners is not available, the test will have to be taken at a later date, with the late penalty applied.

Remediation and Tutoring

The instructor will meet with students who do not pass exams or whose course grade falls below 75%, to arrange for mandatory remediation.  Both parties will develop a plan to gain better understanding of the information covered on the test.  The plan may include, but not be limited to:

• mandatory tutoring session
• research of exam topics
• written discussion of topics
• discussion of topics

Mandatory tutoring in the West Campus Student Success Center (WCB Building) will be required when a test is failed. The student will obtain a “prescription” for tutoring from the instructor and return proof of the tutoring session to the instructor when tutoring is complete. The student must complete the prescribed tutoring to be eligible to take the next exam.

Attendance

Any time a class is missed, it is the student's responsibility to obtain notes from classmates.  The instructor will be happy to discuss any information from the class, but the instructor's lecture notes are not available for copying.

A student who plans to succeed in this course should also plan to regularly attend all lecture and sessions.  Cases of excessive tardiness and absence will be handled on an individual basis and will require a counseling session.  Following this session, a departmental counseling form will be placed in your file.  The purpose of this form is to document that the student has been made aware that excessive absences are jeopardizing successful completion of this course.

In the event of virtual classes, all rules of attendance will apply. It will be counted as an absence if the student does not log on, does not activate the camera and/or is not dressed and sitting at a desk/table. If the student logs on after the class has started, the student is "late". 

To minimize absences and lecture class disruptions, student may earn points that will affect the final course grade. Every time the student earns four (4) points, the final course grade will be dropped one (1) letter grade. Points are earned as follows:

Missing an entire lecture = 1 point

Arriving late** to lecture = 1/2 point

Calendar

Additional Information

Grievance Procedure

Any student who has a problem with a course policy or the course instructor, should first, try to resolve the problem with the instructor or program director.  If the problem cannot be resolved at this level, the student should go to the Program Director, the Dean of Health Sciences.

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