Respiratory Therapy
The Respiratory Therapy Program has two admission tracks:
The Four-year Base Program (B.S.R.T.)
Respiratory Therapy is an allied health specialty that concentrates on the treatment, management, control and care of patients’ breathing. A respiratory therapist is an integral part of the health care team that uses their didactic and clinical practice to evaluate treatments, therapeutics, medications and ventilation for the best outcomes for patients. The B.S.R.T. program prepares students to enter the workforce as registered respiratory therapists.
The Degree Advancement Program (R.R.T. to B.S.R.T)
The R.R.T. to B.S.R.T .Degree Advancement Program (DAP) offers a relevant and challenging program that will impact graduates and the patients whom they treat.
Degree advancement students earn a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy
The degree is earned completely online without having to relocate.
Students network with other practicing professionals.
Successful graduates will have the skills needed to advance in their field.
Career Opportunities
Graduates find employment as respiratory therapists in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, home healthcare companies, and as pharmaceutical sales representatives. The Respiratory Therapist program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) [See www.coarc.com]. Continuation in this program requires that the student receive a grade of C or higher in each course pursued.
Competency Profile
Demonstrate proficiency as respiratory therapists as described by the National Board for Respiratory Care
Assist physicians in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients afflicted with cardiopulmonary disorders
Function effectively as members of the healthcare team
Comprehend, apply, and evaluate clinical information relevant to their role as registered respiratory therapists. (Cognitive Domain)
Demonstrate technical proficiency in all registered respiratory therapist skills. (Psychomotor Domain)
Demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations for the registered respiratory therapist. (Affective Domain)
Facilities
The Respiratory Program is located in the O’Neill Center for Healthy Families. It has a spacious lab with equipment that will be seen in the clinical setting. Students will be able to simulate many therapies-and use different types of equipment to build confidence before going into the clinical setting. All students are required to achieve competence in the lab in a controlled environment before going out to the clinical sites with patients. Students will perform real simulation situations and activities in the lab, so they will have an understanding of therapeutic concepts and how they are applied in real patient care settings. Students will feel well prepared to treat patients as they begin the clinical portion of the program.
Requirements for All Respiratory Therapy Students
The following must be completed after a student has been selected for, but prior to their start in the clinical portion of the program and are also requirements for continuation:
Physical examination and required immunizations
Background checks (Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, FBI fingerprint check, and PA State Police Criminal Record Check)
Drug and alcohol screens
The student should consider these factors before enrolling in this program. If the student has any questions regarding this, he or she should contact the program director.
In addition to tuition and fees, students must purchase uniforms, supplies, liability insurance, testing, and clinical parking fees. Students will be assigned computer simulations that will be completed throughout the program. This will prepare students to sit for the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) exams when they have graduated.
Students will also be required to help within the community and gain knowledge outside of the classroom setting by acquiring Professional Development credits. These outside credits could include volunteering at American Lung Association events, attending informational sessions within the community that teach different types of cardio pulmonary disorders and diseases
Acquiring Core Skills
In addition to the clinical skills that students will learn as part of their curriculum, the Respiratory Therapy Program incorporates core skills training into the program that will benefit all Respiratory Therapy students in their careers.
Writing in the Profession
Students will demonstrate the ability to write effectively in the profession. Elements include the ability to organize an argument, support the argument with high quality relevant evidence, deliver it with good sentence structure and grammar, and cite and reference appropriately.
Oral Communication/Consultative Function/Knowledge
Students will deliver a consultative presentation with recommendations that reflect the knowledge gained through courses in this program.
Critical Inquiry/Evidence-based Medicine
Students will demonstrate the ability to formulate a clinical question, search the medical literature, and assess the collected literature for quality, relevance and limitations.
Teamwork/Interprofessional Cooperation
Students will demonstrate collaboration in interprofessional teams to accomplish a common goal.
Ethical Leadership
Students will demonstrate effectively the ability to lead a group of professionals in an ethical manner promoting patient advocacy.
Teaching Patients and Healthcare Professionals
Students will demonstrate the ability to educate patients, their families, and healthcare professionals.
Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements include current Certification in American Heart Association BLS (CPR), American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, professional development credits, and satisfactory performance on comprehensive written, laboratory, simulation, and oral exit examinations.
Membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is required by the start of the second semester of the clinical portion of Respiratory Therapist program.