Associate of Applied Sciences
10-515-1
This program is designed 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).
Respiratory therapists, as members of a team of health care professionals, work to evaluate, treat and manage patients of all ages with respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders in a wide variety of clinical settings. In addition to performing respiratory care procedures, respiratory therapists are involved in clinical decision making (such as patient evaluation, treatment selection and assessment of treatment efficacy) and patient education. The scope of practice for respiratory therapy includes, but is not limited to: assessing the cardiopulmonary status of patients; drawing blood samples, performing blood gas analysis and pulmonary function testing; initiating ordered respiratory care, evaluating and monitoring patients' responses to such care; modifying the prescribed respiratory therapy and cardiopulmonary procedures and life support endeavors to achieve desired therapeutic objectives; providing patient, family and community education; and participating in life support activities as required. At graduation, the student is qualified for admission to the entry-level and advanced practitioner examinations to become a registered respiratory therapist. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, on recommendation of the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
1. Apply respiratory therapy concepts to patient care situations.
2. Demonstrate technical proficiency required to fulfill the role of a Respiratory Therapist.
3. Practice respiratory therapy according to established
Graduates have found employment as:
- Respiratory Therapist
- Respiratory Care Practitioner
- Respiratory Care Therapists
- Staff Therapist
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist
- Perinatal/Pediatric Therapist
- Pulmonary Function Technologist/Therapist
- Sleep Disorder Center Technician
- Nursing Home Therapist
- Respiratory Care Educator
- Home Care Therapist/Manager
| Courses Taken Prior to Program Entry | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| 501-101 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| 801-136 | English Composition 1 | 3 |
| 806-177 | General Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| 806-197 | Microbiology | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester 1 | ||
| 515-111 | Respiratory Survey | 3 |
| 515-171 | Respiratory Therapeutics 1 | 3 |
| 515-173 | Respiratory Pharmacology | 3 |
| 515-175 | Respiratory Clinical 1 | 2 |
| 801-198 | Speech | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 515-172 | Respiratory Therapeutics 2 | 3 |
| 515-174 | Respiratory/Cardiac Physiology | 3 |
| 515-178 | Respiratory Clinical 2 | 3 |
| 809-198 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer between year 1 and year 2 | ||
| 515-176 | Respiratory Disease | 3 |
| 515-179 | Respiratory Clinical 3 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| 515-112 | Respiratory Airway Management | 2 |
| 515-113 | Respiratory Life Support | 3 |
| 515-181 | Respiratory/Cardio Diagnostic | 3 |
| 515-182 | Respiratory Clinical 4 | 3 |
| 809-196 | Introduction to Sociology | 2 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| 515-145 | Advance Respiratory Care Topics | 2 |
| 515-180 | Respiratory Neo/Peds Care | 2 |
| 515-183 | Respiratory Clinical 5 | 3 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Total Credits | 66 | |