Respiratory Therapists are health care specialists who evaluate, test and treat people with breathing disorders. They are also a vital member of the hospitals’ emergency team, protecting the airway and adjusting life support equipment.
Working under the supervision of a physician, and alongside other health care professionals, the Respiratory Therapist will use oxygen, medications and various procedures to help the lungs to function adequately. Some disorders that Respiratory Therapists treat include: asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, lung injuries, cystic fibrosis, and bronchitis. Therapists can be found in all areas of acute care hospitals as well as long term care facilities and in homecare settings.
The program goals are to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
Admission requirements:
- Satisfy the general requirements for admission to the college.
- Obtain credits in High School Algebra, and English
- Interview with the Respiratory Therapy Program Director.
The Respiratory application process is competitive. The program can only accept 16 students each fall, so it is of benefit to apply and complete your application early. Students will be notified of decisions regarding acceptance following completion of the application. Applicants may begin in any semester to take liberal arts courses that are required within the Respiratory Therapy program.
Special requirements:
Applicants must meet all High School requirements for consideration before entering the program. RT students are required to keep pace with the class and must take courses in sequential mode where required (please refer to the Respiratory curriculum design). Students must meet technical standards and additional requirements including immunizations, liability and health insurance, and a Criminal/Sexual Offender Records Information (CORI/SORI) check.
Students must also:
1) Pass all Liberal Arts Core courses with a “C” (73 grade) or higher.
2) Pass all Respiratory Therapy courses with a “B- (80 grade) or higher.
3) Pass all Respiratory Therapy Clinical Practicum courses with a “B” (83 grade) or higher.
The Director of Clinical Education works with each student to assign appropriate clinical sites. Clinical assignments depend on the availability of clinical sites, and students may be required to travel long distances. A car is required for personal transportation to all clinical education experience assignments.
All courses in the RT program must be successfully completed within 3 years unless special permission has been obtained from the Program Director to continue a fourth year.
Technical standards:
The technical standards for applicant/students in the RT program include motor, sensory, communication, behavior and critical thinking skills reflective of reasonable expectations for performance of common Respiratory Therapy functions.
The Respiratory Therapy program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC) and has full accreditation through 2017. Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC). 1248 Harwood Rd., Bedford, TX 76021-4255 (817) 283-2835.
Program Outcomes: www.coarc.com/47.html
Students must pass all Respiratory Therapy courses with a grade of “B-” or better on the 10-point scale to progress in the program.