Program Faculty: Boatright*, LaMere (*department chair)
Program Description:
The respiratory care major prepares students for advanced level practice as respiratory therapists. As members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, respiratory therapists 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 diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory care procedures, respiratory therapists promote cardiopulmonary wellness, disease prevention, and disease management; provide patient, family and community education; participate in life support activities, and are involved in clinical decision-making (e.g., patient evaluation, treatment selection and assessment of treatment efficacy).
Upon completion of the respiratory care major, students may apply for certification and registration through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential is awarded upon successful completion of the certification (entry-level) examination and qualifies the graduate for registration in the State of Minnesota as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP). The successful completion of the voluntary registry (advanced level) examination entitles the graduate to be credentialed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and signifies advanced professional achievement in respiratory care.
The baccalaureate degree in respiratory care may be obtained with either the B.A. or B.S. degree. The Respiratory Care major is available in the Day program.
ACCREDITATION
The Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, a subcommittee of the Commission of Allied Health Education Programs.
ADMITTANCE TO THE MAJOR
All respiratory care candidates must submit the respiratory care major application materials by March 1 prior to the fall semester when the student plans to begin course work in the respiratory care major. Candidates should contact the respiratory care program director to receive an application packet. Students who indicate interest in the respiratory care major after the March 1 deadline will be encouraged to contact the program director and will be considered for admission on an individual basis after application materials have been completed and submitted (contingent upon the availability of space in the incoming class).
The following admission requirements must be met before students will be admitted to the respiratory care major:
successful completion of prerequisite courses (C or above). No prerequisite courses may be taken S/U.
a cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all courses, including failed courses, completed within the past 10 years. (Students who do not fulfill this requirement may provide supporting documentation to the program director regarding particular circumstances influencing the cumulative GPA.).
Major Requirements: Required courses:
RESP 210 Introduction to Respiratory Care
RESP 220 Principles of Patient Management
RESP 310 Principles of Ventilation
RESP 311 Clinical Applications I
RESP 312 Pathophysiology in Critical Care I
RESP 320W Advanced Therapeutics
RESP 321 Clinical Applications II
RESP 322 Pathophysiology in Critical Care II
RESP 331 Clinical Applications III
RESP 410 Hemodynamics/Electrocardiography
RESP 411 Clinical Specialty I
RESP 420W Senior Seminar
Prerequisite courses:
CHEM 101 General Chemistry for Health Sciences, or CHEM 111 and 112 General Chemistry I and II
PSYC 100 General Psychology
SOCI 100 Principles and Concepts of Sociology
Math/statistics requirement for the liberal arts core (MATH 110 recommended)
Required supporting courses:
BIOL 220 Introduction to Microbiology or BIOL 245 Applied Microbiology
BIOL 251 Human Anatomy*
BIOL 252 Human Physiology*
INDI 115 Basic Patient Care
INDI 116 Respiratory Patient Care and Assessment Skills
INDI 315 Pharmacology for the Healthcare Professional
PHIL 340 Biomedical Ethics
*BIOL 251 and 252 may be replaced with BIOL 240 and 241
The required supporting courses may be completed prior to beginning the respiratory care major or during the completion of course work in the major. The timely completion of these supporting courses is required for progression in the respiratory care major.
Recommended courses:
PSYC 202 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
RESP 421 Clinical Specialty II
SOCI 230 Sociology of Health and Medicine
THEO 320W Suffering, Compassion and Healing: Theology and Spirituality in Healthcare
Respiratory Care majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing RESP 320W. They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirements with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 100W and CORE 399W and one other writing-intensive course in another department).
