Program Description
The Respiratory Care program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for careers in the field of respiratory therapy. Learning opportunities develop academic and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Program graduates are to be competent in the general areas of humanities or fine arts, social or behavioral sciences, and natural sciences or mathematics. In addition, the program emphasizes specialized training in areas such as pulmonary and cardiac medications, medical gases, humidity/aerosol therapy, positive pressure breathing, incentive spirometry, patient assessment, postural drainage, percussion/vibration, assessment of diseases and conditions, critical respiratory care, advanced critical care monitoring, pulmonary function testing, and pediatric and neonatal respiratory care. Program graduates qualify them to take the RRT examination.
Program Length
A minimum of 128 credit hours is required for graduation.
A full time student should expect to complete requirements in 7-8 quarters.
Salary Range
$35,000 to $40,000 annually
Career Opportunities
The United States predicts that respiratory therapy will be one of the fastest growing careers from now to 2010. The profession is expected to grow in the coming years due to largest increase in elderly population, the impact of environmental programs, technological advances in the treatment of heart attacks.
Career Traits/Requirements
Skills required to successfully perform the work of a Respiratory Therapist include the ability to interact with patients and other health professionals, ability to stand on one’s feet for extended periods of time, ability to lift 30 pounds, emotional stability, considerable patience and concern for others, function well as a team member, possess manual dexterity and fine motor coordination, capacity to perform well under stress or in emergency situations.
Additional Requirements
Criminal background check and medical packet required.
Entrance Date
Check Competitive Admissions Criteria
Program Courses |
