This 36-46 hour basic respiratory care course has been designed to enhance the skills of health professionals in providing limited respiratory care during those hours when a respiratory care practitioner is not available. Persons taking the course are assumed to have a basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology, administration of medications, and health care procedures. The course contains seven units and is divided into five sections. The first section deals with the role of the limited practice respiratory care giver; patient conditions requiring technical respiratory care; methods for assessing patients; and determining which health professional should provide the care. Section 2 reviews the legal and ethical responsibilities of health professionals who provide respiratory care. Section 3 recalls basic concepts related to respiratory care, including anatomy and physiology, acid-base knowledge; and respiratory pharmacology. Section 4 provides knowledge and skills needed to carry out limited respiratory care procedures; Section 5 deals with using community resources to provide discharge planning. Included in the course is a competency list; teaching outlines for each unit, relating objectives, content, and teaching methods; skills checklists for student evaluation; and eight references. (KC)