2018 Adult Critical Care Specialist Course

The AARC's Adult Critical Care Specialist course is a comprehensive course developed to enhance the critical skills necessary for respiratory therapists who work in the critical care environment. This is an excellent course to assist those respiratory therapists preparing to challenge the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Adult Critical Care Specialist examination.

In addition to preparing the respiratory therapist for the NBRC ACCS examination, this course is an excellent tool for those who are new to critical care. With content geared toward respiratory critical care and general critical care, this course is a comprehensive orientation to the respiratory therapist's role in caring for the critically ill patient.

Approved for 13.50 CRCE Hours 

User Reviews for Adult Critical Care Specialist Course:

"I feel very prepared for the ACCS!"
"I have learned a lot from this course. It was definitely worth my time."

Seminar Information
Seminar Date:
January 01, 2018
Expiration Date:
October 01, 2018 12:00 AM
Seminar Objectives
  • Discuss respiratory critical care procedures, such as managing airways, administering specialty gases, manage ventilation, and deliver pharmacologic agents.
  • Discuss general critical care practices, such as assessing patient status and changes in status, anticipate care based on laboratory results, anticipate care based on imaging and reports of imaging, anticipate effects of pharmacologic agents, anticipate care based on nutritional status, prevent ventilator associated pneumonia, and recognize and manage patients with infections and sepsis.
  • Discuss determination of brain death and issues involving organ donation.
  • Discuss patient autonomy and the difference between palliative care and hospice.
  • Identify necessary components to prepare for disasters, including patient protection and equipment and supply management.
  • Identify components of acting as an interdisciplinary team member.
  • Discuss performing critical care procedures and troubleshoot systems such as chest tube drainage, bronchoscopy, hemodynamic monitoring, and inhaled delivery of vasodilators.
Welcome to the ACCS Course

Welcome and overview of the course from the AARC Adult Critical Care Section Chair Keith Lamb. The welcome video is approximately 3 minutes in length. It is recommended that you take the pre-course practice examination (see the document in the "papers" tab) prior to accessing the course materials.

Course faculty conflicts of interest are disclosed below. Brand names of products and pictures of products may be used only as examples of available technology. No endorsement of any one product or device is intended.

 

Bill Galvin: no relationships to disclose 

Carl Hinkson: Hamilton Medical speaker bureau and past consulting activities with Physiocontrol, Inc.

Keith Lamb: Advisory board member for Sunovion, Masimo, and GE

Tom Lamphere: Masimo speaker's bureau

Kathy Myers Moss: no relationships to disclose

Peter Papadakos: no relationships to disclose

Brady Scott: Key Opinion Leader for Aerogen; Advisory Board for Sunovion

Shawna Strickland: no relationships to disclose

Speaker Information
Keith Lamb RRT-ACCS   [ view bio ]
Patient Assessment

This presentation discusses components of neurologic, basic cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and musculoskeletal assessments as well as reinforce the recognition of respiratory failure in the critically ill patient. The presenter reviews normal and abnormal findings of these assessments in the context of the critically ill patient.

This video is approximately 67 minutes in length.

NBRC ACCS matrix item II A

Speaker Information
Carl Hinkson MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Cardiopulmonary Disease Review

This presentation focuses 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 ARDS, COPD, CHF, trauma (including burn injuries), pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, and asthma.

This video is approximately 66 minutes in length.

NBRC ACCS matrix item I C

Speaker Information
Keith Lamb RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Infectious Processes

This presentation reviews 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 are also discussed.

This video is approximately 48 minutes in length.

NBRC ACCS matric items II F and II G

Speaker Information
Carl Hinkson MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Pharmacology

This presentation reviews the common medications (pulmonary and non-pulmonary) used in the treatment of critically ill patients. In addition, information on the effects/side effects and the role of the respiratory therapist in the administration of these medications is provided.

This video is approximately 53 minutes in length.

NBRC ACCS matrix items I D, II A, and II D

Speaker Information
J. Brady Scott MSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Diagnostics: Labs

This presentation discusses normal and abnormal values in relation to blood chemistries, cultures, cardiac markers, fluid analysis, and blood gases. These diagnostic laboratory studies are also discussed in context with the condition of the critically ill patient.

This video is approximately 53 minutes in length. 

NBRC ACCS matrix item II B

Speaker Information
J. Brady Scott MSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Diagnostics: Imaging

This presentation focuses on the indications and diagnostic uses of various diagnostic imaging tests, including: radiographs, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, and nuclear scans.

This video is approximately 30 minutes in length. 

NBRC ACCS matrix items II A and II C

Speaker Information
Shawna Strickland PhD RRT RRT-NPS RRT-ACCS AE-C FAARC  [ view bio ]
Airway Management

This presentation identifies common airway clearance issues as well as the indications and contraindications for the use of various specialty gases in the treatment of the critically ill patient as well as the use and hazards of various artificial airways.

This video is approximately 46 minutes in length. 

NBRC ACCS matrix items I A and II A

Speaker Information
Keith Lamb RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Non-Invasive Ventilation

This presentation provides an exploration of the indications, contraindications, hazards, side effects, and beneficial effects of non-invasive ventilation.

This video is approximately 47 minutes in length. 

NBRC ACCS matrix item I C

Speaker Information
Thomas Lamphere BS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

This presentation provides a review of the basics of volume versus pressure ventilation as well as a discussion of appropriate initial mechanical ventilation settings, ventilator graphics interpretation, and weaning techniques.

This video is approximately 59 minutes in length. 

NBRC ACCS matrix item I C

Speaker Information
Thomas Lamphere BS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Mechanical Ventilation: Advanced Modes

This presentation discusses lung injury and mechanical ventilation and provides instruction on using advanced modes such as PRVC, IRV, APRV, and HFOV.

This video is approximately 56 minutes in length. 

NBRC ACCS matrix item I C

Speaker Information
Thomas Lamphere BS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Ventilatory Adjuncts

This presentation identifies alternative methods to improve oxygenation including independent lung ventilation.

This video is approximately 16 minutes in length.

NBRC ACCS matrix item I C

Speaker Information
Thomas Lamphere BS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Assessment

This presentation provides an overview of the vital components of an advanced cardiovascular assessment. In addition, the presentation discusses the various components of hemodynamic monitoring, including normal and abnormal values, and relate these to the critically ill patient.

This video is approximately 25 minutes in length. 

NBRC ACCS matrix item II A

Speaker Information
Kathy Myers Moss PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Special Procedures and Troubleshooting

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.

This video is approximately 29 minutes in length.

NBRC ACCS matrix items II K and II L

Speaker Information
Kathy Myers Moss PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Nutritional Assessment

This presentation addresses the nutritional needs of the critically ill patient and the components of the nutritional assessment placed in context with the nutritional needs of the critically ill patient.

This video is approximately 13 minutes in length. 

Access to a supplemental document, the 2013 AARC Guide to the Nutritional Assessment and Treatment of the Critically Ill Patient, is provided in the "papers" tab for more information about the nutritional needs of the critically ill patient.

NBRC ACCS matrix item II E

Speaker Information
Shawna Strickland PhD RRT RRT-NPS RRT-ACCS AE-C FAARC  [ view bio ]
Ethics, the Team Concept, and Disaster Management

This presentation addresses ethical conflicts and concepts common to the adult intensive care unit, including patient autonomy, informed consent, ventilatory support at the end of life, withdrawal of life support, and organ donation. A discussion of working as part of a multidisciplinary team and essential components of effective disaster management and safety in the adult intensive care unit.

This video is approximately 50 minutes in length. 

NBRC ACCS matrix items II H, II I, and II J

Speaker Information
Shawna Strickland PhD, RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, FAARC  [ view bio ]
ACCS Case Study #1

This module uses a case-based approach to gather and interpret clinical information to assist the adult critical care specialist in making appropriate clinical decisions.

This video is approximately 16 minutes in length. 

Speaker Information
Kathy Myers Moss PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
ACCS Case Study #2

This module uses a case-based approach to gather and interpret clinical information to assist the adult critical care specialist in making appropriate clinical decisions.

This video is approximately 22 minutes in length. 

Speaker Information
Carl Hinkson MS, RRT, RRT-ACCS, RRT-NPS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
ACCS Case Study #3

This module uses a case-based approach to gather and interpret clinical information to assist the adult critical care specialist in making appropriate clinical decisions.

This video is approximately 29 minutes in length. 

Speaker Information
Keith Lamb RRT, RRT-ACCS, FAARC  [ view bio ]
Test Taking Skills

This module identifies keys to successful performance on examinations by addressing major concepts associated with proper preparation and study: issues of memory, the forgetting process, and the principles and stages of learning.

This video is approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes in length. 

Speaker Information
Bill Galvin MEd, RRT, CPFT, AE-C, FAARC   [ view bio ]
Individual topic purchase: Selected
American Association for Respiratory Care
Continuing Respiratory Care Education: 13.50
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