Clinical References & Resources
Verified links to official guidelines, landmark trials, and key resources — organized for TMC board prep. All external links open official organization or peer-reviewed journal pages.
Note on links: URLs for peer-reviewed articles require journal access (institutional login or PubMed). Most AARC CPGs are free to AARC members. All GOLD, GINA, and NBRC content is publicly available without login.
NBRC — Official Credentialing
NBRC Home ↗National Board for Respiratory Care — credential verification, exam policies, candidate handbooks.TMC Exam Content Outline ↗Official weighted content blueprint for the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) examination. All 17 content areas, domain weights, and cognitive levels.CRT & RRT Credentials ↗Entry-level CRT and advanced-practice RRT examination structure, eligibility, and self-scheduling.
AARC — Clinical Practice Guidelines
AARC CPG Library ↗Complete library of AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines — arterial sampling, oxygen therapy, suctioning, incentive spirometry, aerosol delivery, and more.AARC Aerosol Delivery CPG (2020) ↗Evidence-based guidance on MDI, DPI, SVN, and nebulizer technique in adults and children.AARC Endotracheal Suctioning CPG (2010) ↗Open and closed suction technique, frequency, saline lavage evidence, and patient safety.AARC Oxygen Therapy CPG (2002/updated) ↗Indications, contraindications, delivery devices, monitoring, and hazards for supplemental O₂.
ATS / ERS — Pulmonary & Critical Care
ATS Journals (AJRCCM) ↗American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine — primary source for ATS/ERS clinical guidelines.ATS/ERS Spirometry Interpretive Strategy (2022) ↗Updated framework for interpreting spirometry, including FEV₁/FVC, restriction vs obstruction, and z-scores.ATS Statement: 6-Minute Walk Test ↗Protocol, reference equations, stopping criteria, and interpretation of the 6MWT.ATS/ACCP Statement: Ventilator Weaning (2001) ↗Evidence-based recommendations for weaning protocols, SBT techniques, and extubation criteria.
GOLD & GINA — Obstructive Lung Disease
GOLD — Global Initiative for COPD ↗2024 GOLD Report: spirometric classification (1–4), pharmacologic treatment algorithms, exacerbation management.GINA — Global Initiative for Asthma ↗Annual GINA Strategy Report: stepwise treatment, severe asthma, emergency management, and ICS/LABA prescribing guidance.
Landmark Clinical Trials
ARDSNet ARMA Trial — Low VT (2000) ↗N Engl J Med 342:1301. Established 6 mL/kg IBW VT + Pplat ≤30 cmH₂O as standard of care for ARDS — reduced 28-day mortality from 39.8% to 31.0%.PROSEVA — Prone Positioning in ARDS (2013) ↗N Engl J Med 368:2159. Prone ≥16 h/day for severe ARDS (P/F < 150) reduced 28-day mortality from 32.8% to 16.0%. Practice-changing.FLORALI — HFNC vs NIV vs O₂ (2015) ↗N Engl J Med 372:2185. HFNC reduced 90-day mortality in hypoxemic respiratory failure (P/F < 300) compared to conventional O₂ and NIV.TRICC — Transfusion Threshold in ICU (1999) ↗N Engl J Med 340:409. Restrictive RBC transfusion strategy (transfuse when Hgb < 7 g/dL) safe in most ICU patients — no worse outcome than liberal strategy (Hgb < 10).Brochard 1994 — PSV vs SIMV for Weaning ↗N Engl J Med 331:1456. PSV produced faster weaning than SIMV and T-piece. Established PSV + SBT as preferred weaning strategy.ISAT Calfactant (INSuRE) — Neonatal Surfactant (1991) ↗Hallmark trial demonstrating surfactant replacement reduces severity of RDS and mortality in premature neonates.
CDC & CMS — Infection Control & Coverage
CDC — VAP Prevention Guidelines (HICPAC) ↗Evidence-based guidance for preventing VAP, CLABSI, and CAUTI in ICU patients.CDC — Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings ↗CDC hand hygiene guidelines, WHO 5 Moments summary, and training materials.CMS — Home Oxygen Coverage Criteria (LCD L33797) ↗Medicare Local Coverage Determination for home O₂: PaO₂ ≤55 mmHg or SaO₂ ≤88%, qualifying conditions, and documentation requirements.CMS — DMEPOS Billing Codes for O₂ ↗Coverage and billing guidance for oxygen equipment, concentrators, and supplies under Medicare Part B.
Ventilator Manufacturer Resources
Medtronic / Covidien — PB980 Resources ↗PB980 operator manual, mode quick-reference cards, PAV+ and VC+ technical documents.Vapotherm — Precision Flow Clinical Evidence ↗Vapotherm product guides, HVNI clinical evidence library, and cannula sizing reference.Draeger — Ventilator Mode Lexicon ↗Evita series mode descriptions including APRV, SmartCare, and AutoFlow.Hamilton Medical — Adaptive Ventilation ↗Informational AI-controlled ventilation modes (ASV, INTELLiVENT-ASV) used in HAMILTON-G5 and S1 series.
Key Textbooks (No Link — Verify ISBN / Edition)
Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care, 12th ed. ↗Kacmarek, Stoller, Heuer — primary NBRC prep text. Chapters 48–52 cover mechanical ventilation; Ch. 18–19 cover ABG and PFTs.Pilbeam's Mechanical Ventilation, 7th ed. ↗Cairo — advanced ventilator modes, waveform analysis, advanced monitoring, and weaning. Best single-source for TMC ventilator questions.Des Jardins — Clinical Manifestations & Assessment, 8th ed. ↗Disease-specific respiratory care plans; covers CXR findings, ABG patterns, and treatment algorithms per diagnosis.Wilkins — Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care, 8th ed. ↗Bedside assessment skills: inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and case-based application.
Free Online Evidence Tools
PulmCCM — Critical Care Evidence Summaries ↗Free peer-reviewed summaries of the most important ICU and pulmonary trials. Ideal for quick board-level evidence review.LITFL — Life in the Fast Lane (Clinical Cases & Reference) ↗Free EM/CCM reference with ECG, ABG, and ventilator case libraries. High-yield clinical reasoning tool.StatPearls — NCBI Bookshelf ↗Free, regularly-updated clinical chapters on COPD, ARDS, mechanical ventilation, ABG interpretation, and more. Citable peer-reviewed content.MDCalc — Respiratory Calculators ↗A-a gradient, ARDS Berlin criteria, ROX index, Pplat/compliance calculators — all referenced and validated.ARDSNet Protocol — NHLBI ↗Official ARDSNet ventilator management card including FiO₂/PEEP tables (lower and higher PEEP strategies) and IBW calculator.WHO — Infection Prevention & Control ↗WHO IPC guidelines, 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene poster resources, and PPE guidance.
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