Respiratory Therapist
Associate in Applied Science (Career Program) - 70 Credit Hours
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Program Information:
Respiratory care is a health care specialty, which, under medical direction, is involved in the prevention, treatment, management and rehabilitation of people with lung problems. Respiratory care personnel are instrumental in life support and emergency measures. The respiratory care practitioners must be experts in providing specialized and selective therapeutic respiratory care in such areas as medical gas administration, humidity and aerosol medication administration, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and ventilatory support. The respiratory care practitioner must also be capable of performing pulmonary function studies, blood gas analysis and other related physiologic monitoring. The respiratory care practitioners (advanced-practice therapist) specializes in the application of scientific knowledge and theory to practical clinical problems of respiratory care. The advanced-practice respiratory therapist is qualified to assume primary clinical responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including responsibilities involved in supervision of respiratory therapy technician functions. Further, the advanced-practice therapist is capable of serving as a technical resource person to the physician with regard to current practices in respiratory care and to the hospital staff in regard to effective and safe methods of administering respiratory therapy. The advanced-practice respiratory therapist program is a 21-month program. Graduates of the program receive an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and are eligible to take the registry examination prepared by the National Board for Respiratory Care to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (R.R.T). Students receive their classroom and laboratory experiences at the College and at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Clinical experiences are arranged by the College in area respiratory care departments and home care agencies.
Program Accreditation:
The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, CAAHEP, 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756, phone (727)210-2350, fax (727)210-2354, in cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX 76021-4244, phone (817) 283-2835.
Admission to the Program:
Admission criteria for Respiratory Therapist (advanced-practice) include: (1) graduation from high school or equivalent; (2) placement test scores into ENGL 110 and READ 115; (3) an ACT composite score of 18 or above (tested prior to October 28, 1989) or 20 or above (tested October 28, 1989 or later); (4) one year of high school algebra and chemistry with a grade of "C" or better; (5) at least a "C" average in courses taken at other colleges; (6) successful completion of AHA CPR health care provider course; (7) in the case of students not initially admissible to the program: (a) at least a "C" in chemistry and algebra at ICC, if not in high school; (b) a course in reading and study skills; (c) at least a "C" average in 18 or more approved semester hours taken at ICC (courses numbered below 110 will not apply toward the 18 hour requirement). A physical examination is required upon admission to the program.
Recommended high school courses: (1) three years of English; (2) two years of mathematics, including algebra; (3) one year of biology; (4) one year of chemistry.
Program Note:
HEOCC 111 - Introduction to Health Careers is a recommended College course.
| Recommended Course Sequence: |
Fall Semester 1: |
Spring Semester 1: |
Summer Semester 1: |
Fall Semester 2: |
Spring Semester 2: |
| Course Information: |
| Required General Education Courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course | Name | Credit |
| BIOL 145 | PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I | 4 |
| BIOL 146 | PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II | 4 |
| BIOL 210 | MICROBIOLOGY | 4 |
| ENGL 105 | BASIC COMPOSITION | |
| or | ||
| ENGL 110 | COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 111 | COMPOSITION II | |
| or | ||
| COMM 110 | COMMUNICATION: PROCESS AND PRACTICE | 3 |
| PSY 110 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| SOC 110 | AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | 3 |
| HUMANITIES * | 3 | |
| Required Program Courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course | Name | Credit |
| HLTH 111 | ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT (ACLS) | 2 |
| RESP 110 | INTRODUCTION TO RESPIRATORY CARE | 1 |
| RESP 112 | FUNDAMENTALS OF RESPIRATORY CARE I | 4 |
| RESP 115 | RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTICUM I | 3 |
| RESP 121 | FUNDAMENTALS OF RESPIRATORY CARE II | 5 |
| RESP 122 | CARDIOPULMONARY ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY | 2 |
| RESP 123 | PHARMACOLOGY FOR RESPIRATORY CARE | 2 |
| RESP 125 | RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTICUM II | 3 |
| RESP 127 | CARDIOPULMONARY DISEASES | 3 |
| RESP 210 | FUNDAMENTALS OF RESPIRATORY CARE III | 5 |
| RESP 220 | RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTICUM III | 3 |
| RESP 231 | FUNDAMENTALS OF RESPIRATORY CARE IV | 4 |
| RESP 235 | RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTICUM IV | 5 |
| HEOCC 114 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERDISCIPLINARY HEALTH CARE | 1 |
Underlined courses may be taken prior to admission into program
* See specific requirements for Associate in Applied Science Degree (page 6).
A "C" or better grade is required in BIOL 145, 146, and 210 in order to graduate from the program. Students must retain a "C" grade or better in each RESP course, in order to be retained and graduate from the program.
For Program Information Contact:
Health Careers Department
Thomas Building
(309)999-4600