Respiratory Therapists are in Demand!

Program Mission Statement

Collins Career Technical Center Respiratory Therapy program has a mission to prepare the respiratory therapy 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). Along with professional ethics, this mission will prepare the respiratory therapy graduates to be effective members of a team of healthcare professionals.

Program Objectives

Respiratory therapists are members of a team of health care professionals working in a wide variety of clinical settings to evaluate, treat, and manage patients of all ages with respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders. As members of this team, respiratory therapists should exemplify the standards and ethics expected of all health care professionals. In addition to performing respiratory care procedures, respiratory therapists are involved in clinical decision-making and patient education.

Upon completion of the respiratory therapy program, the graduate will have the know-how for:

• 1.Acquiring and evaluating clinical data;
• 2.Assessing the cardiopulmonary status of patients;
• 3.Performing and assisting in the performance of prescribed diagnostic studies such as: obtaining blood samples, blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, and polysomnography;
• 4.Evaluating data to assess the appropriateness of prescribed respiratory care;
• 5.Establishing therapeutic goals for patients with cardiopulmonary disease;
• 6.Participating in the development and modification of respiratory care plans;
• 7.Case management of patients with cardiopulmonary and related diseases;
• 8.Initiating prescribed respiratory care treatments, evaluating and monitoring patient responses to such therapy and modifying the prescribed therapy to achieve the desired therapeutic objectives;
• 9.Initiating and conducting prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation;
• 10.Providing patient, family, and community education;
• 11.Promoting cardiopulmonary wellness, disease prevention, and disease management;
• 12.Participating in life support activities as required; and promoting evidence-based medicine; research; and clinical practice guidelines.

Health Requirements

• Respiratory Care Students must demonstrate numerous competencies representing all three learning domains: the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains. Students learn, practice, and verify these competencies in a number of settings including the classroom, laboratory and clinic. All students interested in participating in the Respiratory Care Program at Collins Career Center should be aware of the physical demands associated with the profession. Examples of these requirements include but are not limited to the following:

Vision Capabilities:

• Normal or corrected refraction within the range of 20/20 to 20/60. Distinguish between color shades.

Hearing Capabilities:

• Possess normal or corrected hearing abilities within 0-45 decibel range.

Motor Capabilities:

• Maneuver large equipment weighing between 100-150 lbs. without assistance.
• Lift a minimum of 25 lbs. without assistance using proper body mechanics.
• Assist in lifting patients using proper body mechanics.
• Stand for extended periods of time.
• Walk without assistance for long distances maneuvering equipment or transporting patients.

Language Capabilities:

• Communicate verbally with patient, patient families, co-workers, and other medical personnel.

Mental Capabilities:

• Think and act quickly to emergency situations.
• Cope with stress.
• Comprehend daily work activities.

Length of Course:

The Respiratory Therapy Program is a two-year program that begins in August each year and ends the last week of June. Students are off during the month of July

Job Opportunities:

Graduates are employed in area hospitals and nursing homes. Advancement depends on individual personal goals.

Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)

CoARC# 200450

WWW.COARC.COM
Student Outcomes

CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.