Syllabus for PSG-200

CLINICAL FUNDAMENTALS OF POLYSOMNOGRAPHY

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Clinical Fundamentals of Polysomnography provides the student with the online component for preparing them for their role as an entry-level polysomnographic (PSG) technologist. The course covers the fundamental concepts of the PSG discipline: roles, ethics, and professional behavior of the PSG technologist; basic sleep physiology and cardiopulmonary physiology; basic concepts of PSG recording and testing preparation; and management of clinical and technical events.

COURSE TOPICS

1. clinical and technical events
2. competency evaluation
3. data acquisition
4. equipment
5. equipment/patient setup
6. infection control and patient safety
7. patient confidentiality
8. patient intake
9. patient orientation
10. PSG recording
11. role of the sleep technologist
12. sleep stages and architecture
13. sleep-related pharmacology

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the key functions and responsibilities of the sleep technologist.
2. Review a patient chart and communicate results with the physician.
3. Conduct a pretest patient interview.
4. Orient the patient to the sleep center.
5. Prepare and organize the necessary electrodes and monitors to be used in the PSG evaluation.
6. Apply all electrodes and monitors based on physician specified order/procedure.
7. Prepare the PSG acquisition system.
8. Initiate, monitor, and document a polysomnographic recording.
9. Identify and manage clinical and technical events.
10. Identify drugs that may affect the sleep EEG or other applicable physiological parameters being assessed during the PSG recording.

COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to do the work of the course. The Artifact & Troubleshooting Guide is available from the College’s textbook supplier, MBS Direct. The AASM Manual for Scoring . . . Version 2.0 is available by subscription or access code from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

1. The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications Version 2.0. [Available by calendar year subscription or access code from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. See http://www.aasmnet.org/scoringmanual/default.aspx.]

2. Artifact & Troubleshooting Guide (Darien, IL: American Association of Sleep Technologists, 2010).

COURSE STRUCTURE

Clinical Fundamentals of Polysomnography is a six-credit online course, consisting of eleven (11) modules. Modules include an overview, topics, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below. 

1. Module 1: The Key Functions and Responsibilities of the Sleep Technologist
   Course objective covered in this module: CO 1

2. Module 2: Chart Review and Patient Interview
   Course objectives covered in this module: CO 2 and CO 3

3. Module 3: Patient Orientation, Equipment Preparation, and Electrode/Sensor Application Techniques
   Course objectives covered in this module: CO 4 and CO 5

4. Module 4: 10-20 System for Electrode Placement and Electrode Application
   Course objective covered in this module: CO 6

5. Module 5: Electrode and Sensor Application [Part 1]
   Course objectives covered in this module: CO 5, 6, 7

6. Module 6: Electrode and Sensor Application [Part 2]
   Course objectives covered in this module: CO 5 and CO 6

7. Module 7: Preparing the Acquisition System
   Course objective covered in this module: CO 7

8. Module 8: Monitor and Document a Polysomnographic Recording
   Course objective covered in this module: CO 8

9. Module 9: Identify and Manage Clinical and Technical Events
   Course objective covered in this module: CO 9

10. Module 10: Identify and Document Sleep-Related Pharmacology
    Course objective covered in this module: CO 10

11. Module 11: Guided Patient Hookup and Recording
    Course objectives covered in this module: CO 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For your formal work in the course, you are required to complete eight “Laboratory” assignments and nine “Clinical” assignments, take four quizzes, and complete four Technical Competency evaluations. See below for details.

Consult the course Calendar for due dates.

Assignments

Clinical Fundamentals of Polysomnography includes eight (8) Laboratory assignments and nine (9) Clinical assignments. These activities offer observation opportunities and practice in the competencies you need to demonstrate on the four Technical Competency evaluations. The scheduling of laboratory and clinical sessions will take place in Week 1 as part of your first Laboratory assignment.

Laboratory Assignments

For each Laboratory assignment you will submit a checklist of all the activities you covered during the laboratory session. The preceptor will fill in and return the checklist to you with her or his comments.

Clinical Assignments

For each Clinical assignment you will submit both a checklist of all the activities you covered during the clinical session and a summary log detailing the patient interactions you observed or in which you participated. The preceptor will return both the completed checklist and your summary log, along with her or his comments.

Quizzes

Clinical Fundamentals of Polysomnography requires you to take four (4) online quizzes. Each quiz consists of 20 multiple-choice questions covering module topics. You will have 30 minutes to complete each quiz. Please consult the course Calendar for quiz due dates.

Statement about Cheating

You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:

1. Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the answer.
2. Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of responses from any other source into your online test. This includes but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.
3. Plagiarizing answers.
4. Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while you take the exam.
5. Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.
6. Telling your mentor that you need another attempt and the exam because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is not true.

If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.

Competency Evaluations

Clinical Fundamentals of Polysomnography requires you to successfully complete four (4) Technical Competency evaluations. They are:

1. Technical Competency 1: Patient Arrival and Electrode/Sensor Application
2. Technical Competency 2: Equipment Preparation, Electrode/Sensor Application, and Calibration
3. Technical Competency 3: Montages and Equipment Calibration and Function in PSG Technology
4. Technical Competency 4: Scoring Sleep Stages and Clinical Events

Competency is met when you perform the competency according to accepted standards and guidelines. For every “Needs Improvement” (NI) you receive, your preceptor will enter a comment outlining the specific issue. To achieve a minimum passing score (see the Scoring Key for each competency evaluation), you must meet standards on 80% of the items listed as individual competencies and submit all accompanying files (screen captures and photos) identified.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

1. Laboratory assignments (8)—5%
2. Clinical assignments (9)—15%

1. Quizzes (4)—20%:

1. Quiz 1 (covers Modules 1 and 2)
2. Quiz 2 (covers Modules 3 and 4)
3. Quiz 3 (covers Modules 7 and 8)
4. Quiz 4 (covers Modules 9 and 10)

2. Technical Competency evaluations (4)—60%:

1. Patient Arrival and Electrode/Sensor Application
2. Equipment Preparation, Electrode/Sensor Application, and Calibration
3. Montages and Equipment Calibration and Function in PSG Technology
4. Scoring Sleep Stages and Clinical Events

To pass the course, you must successfully complete (i.e., achieve the minimum competency score or higher) all four Technical Competency evaluations. If you successfully complete the four competency evaluations (60%), then the rest of your grade will be determined by your scores on the four quizzes (20%) and your completion of the module labs (5%) and clinicals (15%). Regardless of your scores on the quizzes and your completion of labs and clinicals, failure to successfully complete all four competency evaluations will result in a failing grade (F).

Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:

To receive credit for the course, you must successfully complete all four Technical Competency evaluations and earn a letter grade of C or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., labs, clinicals, quizzes, and competency evaluations). You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

1. Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.
   
2. Take time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.
   
3. Familiarize yourself with the learning management systems environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.
   
4. If you are not familiar with Web-based learning be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:

1. To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The Calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking examinations.
   
2. Check Announcements regularly for new course information.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students at Thomas Edison State College are expected to exhibit the highest level of academic citizenship. In particular, students are expected to read and follow all policies, procedures, and program information guidelines contained in publications; pursue their learning goals with honesty and integrity; demonstrate that they are progressing satisfactorily and in a timely fashion by meeting course deadlines and following outlined procedures; observe a code of mutual respect in dealing with mentors, staff, and other students; behave in a manner consistent with the standards and codes of the profession in which they are practicing; keep official records updated regarding changes in name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address; and meet financial obligations in a timely manner. Students not practicing good academic citizenship may be subject to disciplinary action including suspension, dismissal, or financial holds on records.

Academic Dishonesty

Thomas Edison State College expects all of its students to approach their education with academic integrity—the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception. All mentors and administrative staff members at the College insist on strict standards of academic honesty in all courses. Academic dishonesty undermines this objective. Academic dishonesty takes the following forms:

1. Cheating
2. Plagiarizing (including copying and pasting from the Internet without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources)
3. Fabricating information or citations
4. Facilitating acts of dishonesty by others
5. Unauthorized access to examinations or the use of unauthorized materials during exam administration
6. Submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the mentor
7. Tampering with the academic work of other students

Academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal from the College. Students who submit papers that are found to be plagiarized will receive an F on the plagiarized assignment, may receive a grade of F for the course, and may face dismissal from the College.

A student who is charged with academic dishonesty will be given oral or written notice of the charge. If a mentor or the College official believes the infraction is serious enough to warrant referral of the case to the academic dean, or if the mentor awards a final grade of F in the course because of the infraction, the student and the mentor will be afforded formal due process.

If a student is found cheating or using unauthorized materials on an examination, he or she will automatically receive a grade of F on that examination. Students who believe they have been falsely accused of academic dishonesty should seek redress through informal discussions with the mentor, through the office of the dean, or through an executive officer of Thomas Edison State College.

Plagiarism

Using someone else’s work as your own is plagiarism. Although it may seem like simple dishonesty, plagiarism is against the law. Thomas Edison State College takes a strong stance against plagiarism, and students found to be plagiarizing will be severely penalized. If you copy phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or whole documents word-for-word—or if you paraphrase by changing a word here and there—without identifying the author, then you are plagiarizing. Please keep in mind that this type of identification applies to Internet sources as well as to print-based sources. Copying and pasting from the Internet, without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources, constitutes plagiarism. (For information about how to cite Internet sources, see Online Student Handbook > Academic Standards > “Citing Sources.”)

Accidentally copying the words and ideas of another writer does not excuse the charge of plagiarism. It is easy to jot down notes and ideas from many sources and then write your own paper without knowing which words are your own and which are someone else’s. It is more difficult to keep track of each and every source. However, the conscientious writer who wishes to avoid plagiarizing never fails to keep careful track of sources.

Always be aware that if you write without acknowledging the sources of your ideas, you run the risk of being charged with plagiarism.

Clearly, plagiarism, no matter the degree of the intent to deceive, defeats the purpose of education. If you plagiarize deliberately, you are not educating yourself, and you are wasting your time on courses meant to improve your skills. If you plagiarize through carelessness, you are deceiving yourself.