• Easy ABG’s — Cyndi’s step-by-step approach is easy to remember and will have you deciphering the findings at a glance
• Ventilation, perfusion and oxygenation — finally master the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve and know what symptoms to anticipate
• Mechanical ventilation skills every nurse should know
• Pulmonary drug cabinet from A to Z
• Emergency management of common and not-so-common respiratory conditions

Module 1

Oxygenation, Ventilation and Perfusion

• Physiology of Gas Exchange
• Math Made Easy!
• V/Q Match vs Mis-Match
• Calculating Shunting
• Oxygen Delivery DO2
• Oxygen Consumption VO2
• Oxyhemoglobin Dissociation Curve
• SVO2 Monitoring
• StO2
• Putting it All Together

Blood Gas Interpretation (ABGs)

• Easy Steps to ABG Analysis
• Acid Base Imbalances
• The Big “4” Abnormal Results
• Rapid Interpretation Tools

Oxygen Delivery Devices

Pro’s and Con’s of:

• Nasal Cannulas
• Oxymizer/Oxymask
• Simple Face Mask
• Non-Rebreather Mask
• Venturi Mask

Physical Assessment

• Respiratory Assessment Clues You Should NEVER Miss!
• Common Adventitious Breath Sounds
• What are the Causes & When are They Heard?
• Crackles/Rales – wet vs. dry
• Wheezes – not always airway obstruction
• Rhonchi – differentiating the differences
• Stridor – emergency treatment
• Pleural Friction Rub
• Advanced Assessment Skills
• Inspection & Percussion

Module 2

Imagery (X-ray Interpretation)

• Changes on the Chest X-ray
• Tips & Reminders
• Types of X-rays
• Positioning
• Interpretation & Diagnosis

Airway Pharmacologic Agents

• The Pulmonary Drug Cabinet from A to Z
• Anti-Cholinergic Agents
• Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
• Bronchodilators
• Combo-Drugs
• Inhalers & Spacers
• And More!

Basic and Advanced Airway Management

• Managing Obstruction
• Airway Adjuncts
• Know Your Role in Intubation
• The “5-point Check”
• Rapid Sequence Intubation
• Managing Chest Tubes
• Avoiding Common Complications

Module 3

Non-Invasive Ventilation (CPAP & BIPAP)

• Advantages & Disadvantages
• Contraindications
• Assessing the Fit
• Determining the Settings

Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (Ventilators)

• Responding to the Alarms
• Management Strategies that Improve Outcomes
• Patient Comfort
• Decreasing Workload
• Frequent Assessment
• Cardiac Output Clues
• Suctioning

Modes on Ventilators

• Volume Control
• Pressure Controlled Ventilation
• PEEP
• ECMO

Other Ventilator Extremes

• Artificial Surfactant
• Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilators
• Nitric Oxide
• Proning
• Partial Liquid Ventilation

Complications of Mechanical Ventilation

• BaroTrauma & VoluTrauma
• Oxygen Toxicity
• Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

Module 4

Weaning and Extubation

• Why, When & How
• Causes of Weaning Failure
• Setting up for Success

ABCDE Bundle

• EBP Driving Practice
• Proven Outcomes
• Current Practice Guidelines

Ventilation and Oxygenation Issues

• Asthma, CHF, Pneumonia and ARDS (Asthma, Pneumonia, Heart Failure/Pulmonary Edema)
• Signs & Symptoms of Each
• Lab Findings
• Treatment Recommendations
• Emergency Management

Module 5

Perfusion Issues: Putting It All Together

• ARDS, PE, Septic Shock, TRALI, TACO
• Identifying the Cause
• Prevention Measures
• Critical Assessment Clues
• Managing Complications