Supplemental Materials
In addition to the one-day, live Adult Critical Care Specialist course, your registration provides you with access to an online course at AARC University (available Jan 1, 2015) to round out your education. The online course provides you with videos, handouts, and supplemental materials to help you prepare for the NBRC RRT-ACCS examination or review the respiratory therapist’s role in caring for the critically ill patient. The online course provides you with a total of 6.5 non-traditional CRCE credits.
Online modules include:
Cardiopulmonary Disease Review
Keith D Lamb RRT-ACCS, Des Moines IA
This presentation will focus on the cardiopulmonary disease processes that are common to the intensive care unit and are specifically addressed on the NBRC ACCS examination. These processes include but are not limited to: ALI/ARDS, COPD, cardiac disorders, post-surgical conditions, asthma, traumatic injury, burns/inhalation injury, pulmonary hypertension, and shock.
Infectious Processes
Carl Hinkson MS RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS FAARC
This presentation will review general infections common to patients in the intensive care unit and the various transmission routes of these infections. Other aspects of infectious processes such as VAP/VAE and preventive measures in the intensive care unit will also be discussed.
Diagnostics: Imaging
Peter J. Papadakos, MD, FAARC
This presentation will focus on the indications and diagnostic uses of various diagnostic imaging tests, including: radiographs, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, and nuclear scans.
Nutritional Assessment
Peter J. Papadakos, MD, FAARC
This presentation will address the nutritional needs of the critically ill patient and the components of the nutritional assessment. The presenter will place the assessment in context with the nutritional needs of the critically ill patient.
Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Assessment
Kathy Myers Moss, PhD(c), RRT-ACCS
This presentation will begin with an overview of the vital components of an advanced cardiovascular assessment. The presenter will then discuss the various components of hemodynamic monitoring, including normal and abnormal values, and relate these to the critically ill patient.
Special Procedures and Troubleshooting
Kathy Myers Moss, PhD(c), RRT-ACCS
This presentation focuses on a variety of procedures classified as "special procedures" by the NBRC and the respiratory therapist's role in performing or assisting in the procedure as well as troubleshooting various situations. These procedures include: arterial line monitoring, mini-bronchial alveolar lavage, chest tube drainage systems, and bronchoscopy.
Ethics, the Team Concept, and Patient Safety
Shawna Strickland PhD RRT-NPS RRT-ACCS AE-C FAARC
This presentation will discuss common ethical challenges encountered by the respiratory therapist in the adult critical care environment, interdisciplinary teamwork in the critical care environment, and specific patient safety and disaster planning issues for which the respiratory therapist must account.
Putting It All Together: Case Studies
Carl Hinkson MS RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS FAARC
Keith Lamb RRT-ACCS
Kathy Myers Moss PhD(c) RRT-ACCS
This presentation will combine a comprehensive review of all materials and specific case scenarios. The audience will be an integral part of the decision-making scenarios as key information is reinforced.
Test-taking Skills and Strategies
Bill Galvin MSEd RRT CPFT AE-C FAARC, Gwynedd Valley PA
This presentation will identify keys to successful performance on examinations. It will briefly address major concepts associated with proper preparation and study—issues of memory, the forgetting process, and the principles and stages of learning. Additionally, it will cover what candidates can expect at the test center—the check-in procedure, logging-on to the computer, and what will be viewed on the computer screen. It will provide a detailed account of the exam matrix (scope of the Advanced Critical Care Examinations), test format (number, type, and timing), test content and composition (content areas), cognitive levels, item analysis, time strategies, and specific test-taking skills and techniques. Examples of examination items will be given with a breakdown of how to tackle even the ones you simply do not know.
