Pulmonary Diagnostics Syllabus for 2021-2022
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

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 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.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

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:

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.

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 .

Course

RSPT-2305-001 Pulmonary Diagnostics

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RSPT 1411

Course Description

The theories and techniques involved in pulmonary function testing, blood gas analysis and quality control.

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

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 

Heuer & Scanlan, Willkins' Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care, Elsevier, 8th Edition

Kacmarek, Stoller, and Heuer, Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care, Elsevier, 12th Edition

Supplies

Come to class prepared to engage in discussion.  Bring appropriate materials for taking notes so you can be successful in passing this course.  Students are required to participate as active learners.
A Laptop computer will be needed for exams, with the most recent Respondus Lockdown Browser downloaded.  Your computer will need to be fully charged the night before the exam with all recent updates installed before the time of the exam.

Your cell phone or tablet will be needed for Zoom proctoring during exams for a peripheral view if exams are taken out of class time.

Student Performance

End-Of-Course Outcomes:  Explain pulmonary function testing; interpret pulmonary function test results; describe principles/concepts involved in arterial blood gas analysis; analyze quality control data for pulmonary function and blood gas analysis equipment.

1. Develop a basic understanding of acid-base physiology of the blood.
2. Interpret arterial blood gas (ABG) results and make recommendations for appropriate therapy.
3. Develop correct skills in drawing arterial blood samples.
4. Understand the principles of quality control in blood gas analysis.
5. Develop a basic understanding of the assessment of chest radiographs.
6. Develop a basic understanding and application of pulmonary function studies.
7. Develop a basic understanding of common laboratory test associated with lung abnormalities or disease.
8. Understand how nutritional status can alter pulmonary conditions.
9. Develop an understanding of how OSA can affect the cardiopulmonary system.

 

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student 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

1. The student should read assignments prior to class and be prepared to discuss topics covered in class. Keep up with the reading! Take notes while you read. DO NOT just highlight text. I suggest reading every night. If you wait until quiz or test time not only will you be unprepared for class discussions, there will be too much to read. 
2. Assigned homework (this includes reading assignments) is to be completed before class. Homework cannot be completed in class unless time is given by the instructor.
3. All students are responsible for their own work.  Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.
4. All conversation should be related to the discussion at hand and comments should not be directed toward specific individuals.  Please refrain from private conversations or any other activities which might distract other learners. Do not sleep in class. We all have demanding schedules and are tired at times. But, sleeping in class is a distraction to the instructor and fellow students. If you sleep it will count as an absence regardless of the time missed.
5. Students are responsible for equipment loss or damage if such loss is due to abuse or intentional neglect by the student.
6. I want all students to be successful.  Cell phones distract from the learning environment.  For this reason, they should be turned off and put away out of view upon entering the classroom.  If you must carry a phone to class for emergency purposes, please see me in advance.  If you bring a laptop or other technological device to class, it should not be used for purposes other than taking class notes or testing.  If cell phone activity becomes a problem, the instructor reserves the right for students to place their phones in the basket and will be returned at the end of class.
7. RSPT 2305 contains a great deal of information and you must keep up on your reading and studying the material.  I will not have the luxury to go back and re-explain concepts each class meeting, therefore it is imperative for each student to outline the sections of reading and learn the content.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to the West Campus Tutoring Center or the SSS tutor if needed.
8. Being courteous in class does not mean that you have to agree with everything that is being said. However, your point will be much more credible if conveyed without rudeness, aggression, or hostility. If you strongly disagree with your professor, it is a good idea to speak with him/her after class.
9. When you have a question or comment, please raise your hand first as a courtesy to your classmates and the professor. Remember, your questions are NOT an imposition – they are welcome. Chances are, if you have a question, someone else is thinking the same thing but is too shy to ask it. So, ask questions! You’ll learn more, it makes the class more interesting, and you are helping others learn as well.
10. If an emergency arises that requires an absence from a scheduled class, it is your responsibility to get the notes and all other information that was covered in class from a colleague you trust.

Grading Criteria

1. Each examination will have a specific value of points awarded for correct answers. Exams will make up 500 points of this course.  The remaining 100 points will come from homework assignments or quizzes at the beginning of class.
2. At the end of the course, all possible points from examinations and other assignments will be totaled. This total will be the maximum possible points a student could earn.
3. The number of points earned by a student will be divided by the maximum possible points for the course. The quotient will be expressed as a percent and converted to a final grade.

Grading Scale:        
    A          89.5-100% or 537-600 points
    B          79.5-89.4% or 477-536 points
    C          75.0-79.4% or 450-476 points
    F          74.9-0% or less than 450 points

If a student is absent for a regularly scheduled examination, the student may take a makeup examination but the highest grade a student can earn is 75%.  Students have one week to make up an examination.  All material given in this course will be tested during the five major examinations.
 

Attendance

I want you to be successful and your attendance is critical to your success.  In order to be fair, there is no distinction between an excused absence and an unexcused absence.  A student who plans to pass this course should also plan to regularly attend all lecture sessions.  Students chronically late to class or those with excessive absences may be at risk for passing this course.  Each student with a tardy/attendance problem will be addressed on an individual basis with the instructor. 

Should the college need to revert to remote learning (as in the case of the COVID-19 Pandemic), students will have their cameras on and will be visible in frame for the duration of class. 

Calendar

Additional Information

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.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
A student, who develops a problem with a course policy or the course instructor, should first try to resolve the problem with the instructor of record, then the program director.  If the problem cannot be resolved at this level, the student should make an appointment to speak with the Associate Dean of Health Sciences Kim Boyd 354-6060, Dean of Health Sciences Kim Crowley 354-6087, Associate VP of Academic Services Becky Burton 371-5122, and VP of Academic Affairs Dr. Tamara Clunis 371-5226, in that order.

REMEDIATION POLICY
The instructor will meet with students who perform poorly on exams.  Both parties will develop a plan to gain a better understanding of the information covered on the exam.  This remediation will be completed before the student can take the next scheduled exam in the course and will be scheduled outside of regular class time. The plan will include, but will not be limited to:
     1.  Students earning less than 75% on an exam will be required to see a tutor in the West Campus Tutoring Center before the next exam can be taken.  A prescription will be sent to your AC email that needs to be signed by a staff member from the tutoring center.
     2.  If a student does not understand the concepts or topics after the tutorial session, please email the instructor to schedule a discussion of topics with the instructor.
     3.  If a student fails a second test during the semester, steps 1 and 2 above will need to be followed and the student must turn in hand-written chapter objectives and defined key terms from the chapter(s) before the next major exam.

CAMPUS POLICE
Campus police non-emergency 371-5163, and in the case of Emergency call 371-5911 or call 911 for city police and ambulance assistance.

WITHDRAWAL PROCESS

Students wishing to withdraw from a class must consult with their instructor first.  Students may either communicate via email or meet face-to-face with their instructor to begin the withdrawal process.  If the instructor and student both agree that withdrawal is the appropriate course of action, the student will initiate the paperwork and obtain the instructor's signature.

Dropping courses before reaching the 60% point in the semester could result in the student needing to repay back financial aid funding.  To determine this date for your specific classes, log in to AC Connect, click Self Service menu, click My Academic Profile, click My Important Course Section Dates.

Students will receive confirmation that their withdrawal request has been completed.  The Registrar's Office will process the withdrawal and notify both the student and the instructor via AC email.

If a student stops attending class and does not officially drop or withdraw from the course, a grade of "F" will be given for the course grade.  A grade of "W" will be given for student-initiated drops or withdrawals.  Texas law now mandates that students may only drop or withdraw 6 times in their entire college careers, excluding drops prior to the census date.
The last day to drop or withdraw is provided on the AC Master Calendar.

NOTE:  Respiratory Care Program students that withdraw or are unsuccessful from this course will be delayed in completing the major components of the AAS degree in Respiratory Care. 
To continue in the program, a student may repeat an RSPT course only one time and may repeat no more than two RSPT courses while enrolled in the program.  The term "repeat" shall be interpreted to mean re-enrollment following withdrawal, drop, or unsatisfactory grade.