Main description:

A leader in respiratory care education for more than 35 years, this comprehensive textbook lays a strong foundation for a successful career. You'll gain a thorough understanding of the role of respiratory therapists (RTs), a scientific basis for treatment, and clinical applications. In-depth discussions progress from the principles of respiratory care to applied anatomy and physiology, assessment, discussion of specific respiratory illnesses, basic therapy, acute and critical care, and preventive and long-term care. Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and Therapist Driven Protocols (TDPs) in appropriate chapters familiarize you with patient care guidelines and decision trees as they are used in practice.

Contents:

Section I: Foundations of Respiratory Care

1. History of Respiratory Care

2. Quality and Evidence-Based Respiratory Care

3. Patient Safety, Communication, and Recordkeeping

4. Principles of Infection Control

5. Ethical and Legal Implications of Practice

6. Physical Principles of Respiratory Care

7. Computer Applications in Respiratory Care

Section II: Applied Anatomy and Physiology

8. The Respiratory System

9. The Cardiovascular System

10. Ventilation

11. Gas Exchange and Transport

12. Solutions, Body Fluids, and Electrolytes

13. Acid-Base Balance

14. Regulation of Breathing

Section III: Assessment of the Respiratory Care Patient

15. Bedside Assessment of the Patient

16. Interpretation of Clinical Laboratory Data

17. Interpreting the Electrocardiogram

18. Analysis and Monitoring of Gas Exchange

19. Pulmonary Function Testing

20. A Synopsis of Thoracic Imaging

21. Nutrition Assessment

Section IV: Review of Cardiopulmonary Disease

22. Pulmonary Infections

23. Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD, Asthma, and Related Diseases

24. Interstitial Lung Disease

25. Pleural Diseases

26. Pulmonary Vascular Disease

27. Acute Lung Injury, Pulmonary Edema, and Multiple System Organ Failure

28. Lung Cancer

29. Neuromuscular and Other Diseases of the Chest Wall

30. Disorders of Sleep

31. Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Disorders

Section V: Basic Therapeutics

32. Airway Pharmacology

33. Airway Management

34. Emergency Cardiovascular Life Support

35. Humidity and Bland Aerosol Therapy

36. Aerosol Drug Therapy

37. Storage and Delivery of Medical Gases

38. Medical Gas Therapy

39. Lung Expansion Therapy

40. Bronchial Hygiene Therapy

Section VI: Acute and Critical Care

41. Respiratory Failure and the Need for Ventilatory Support

42. Mechanical Ventilators

43. Physiology of Ventilatory Support

44. Initiating and Adjusting Ventilatory Support

45. Noninvasive Ventilation

46. Monitoring and Management of the Patient in the Intensive Care Unit

47. Discontinuing Ventilatory Support

48. Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care

Section VII: Patient Education and Long-Term Care

49. Patient Education and Health Promotion

50. Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

51. Respiratory Care in Alternative Settings

Appendix: NBRC Exam Matrix Correlation Guide