More information: Respiratory Therapy
PURPOSE
The degree in Respiratory Therapy is designed to prepare students for roles as contributing members of the modern healthcare team concerned with treatment, management, and care of patients with breathing, cardiovascular, and sleep abnormalities.
OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES
Occupational objectives include employment opportunities as respiratory therapy practitioners working under supervision of a physician in:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Research facilities
- Home care agencies
- Alternate care sites
The respiratory therapy practitioner is able to:
- Administer gas, humidity, aerosol, and bronchial hygiene therapy
- Manage patients on mechanical ventilation
- Assist with special therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and airway management techniques
- Follow therapeutic protocols
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Synthesize theory and clinical practice as measured by the NBRC Clinical Simulation Self-Assessment Exam with a combined score of 232 or higher on decision making and information gathering.
- Apply critical thinking to the practice of respiratory care as measured by the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice Self-Assessment Exam with a score of 92 or higher.
- Demonstrate competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs) through the RTH program courses.
- Demonstrate awareness of credentialing, job placement, interviewing, licensure, and professionalism within the field of respiratory care by completing RTH 227 .
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- General college curricular admission
PROGRAM NOTES
The Respiratory Therapy program offers lecture courses in a HyFlex format. For the majority of the lecture courses, students have the flexibility to participate either face-to-face, via live video, or online. However, all HyFlex lecture courses within the curriculum require in-person proctoring for all assessments. Proctored testing can be done at Reynolds testing centers or testing sites at other VCCS colleges. In addition, students will be required to attend face-to-face labs, presentations, clinical rotations, and other class activities.
To complete the Respiratory Therapy program, students will be required to attend both day and evening classes.
APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM
Applicants must:
- Fulfill prerequisite courses included in the Health Professions CSC with a C or higher by the end of the spring semester in the year the student is applying for acceptance into the associate degree: ENG 111 , PSY 230 , SDV 101 , PHI 220 , BIO 141 , and BIO 142 (BIO 141 corequisite: demonstration of NAS 2 concepts of chemical concepts, cytology, and inheritance through NAS 2 completion; or assessment; or module completion; or equivalent)
- Complete a required math entrance exam successfully. Information regarding the math entrance exam is emailed to students after applying to the program.
- Submit a portfolio by February 1, which includes a completed Respiratory Therapy program application and unofficial transcript(s).
- Meet with a Respiratory Therapy, full-time faculty member before the application deadline.
ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM
Students are accepted into the Respiratory Therapy AAS degree based on completion of the Health Professions CSC with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher (not to include SDV 101 or HLT 105 as part of the GPA calculation), competitive ranking of their GPA, and Math Admission Test score. The department chair will notify students by June 15 regarding acceptance.
NON-ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM
Students not accepted into the program must reapply by the February 1 deadline. Previously submitted Respiratory Therapy portfolios will not be carried over to the next year’s applicant pool.
ACCEPTANCE INTO CLINICAL COURSES
Students who have been accepted into the program must secure transportation to and from facilities used for clinical experiences. Students enrolled in programmatic clinical rotations shall not receive any form of remuneration in exchange for their work. In addition, students shall not be substituted for paid staff and/or used simply as back-ups in the absence of appropriate paid staff during clinical rotations.
Students will be placed in clinical courses (RTH 190 or higher) when they have submitted the following (at the student’s expense):
- Completed physical examination form provided by the program, which includes a yearly TB Test and flu vaccination, as well as an immunization schedule and immunization titers.
- Documentation of a current CPR Basic Life Support Certification for the Health Care Provider through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross with biennial recertification.
- Certified background check and drug screening. (Applicants who do not pass the background check and/or drug screening will not be allowed to enroll in any Respiratory Therapy clinical course.) Completion of the background check and drug screening is mandatory.
- Students are required to complete a certified background check and drug screening through the college’s contracted vendor.
- Background check and drug screening results must be satisfactory.
- Students who receive an unsatisfactory result on a background check and/or drug screening will be dismissed from the Respiratory Therapy AAS program.
- Students are permitted one opportunity to complete the background check and drug screening prior to initial clinical entry.
- The program reserves the right to require random drug screening and/or repeat background checks for current or returning students at any time.
- Other documents/modules required by clinical affiliates.
FUNCTIONAL SKILLS REQUIREMENTS
Students entering the Respiratory Therapy program must possess the following functional skills at sufficient levels:
- Eyesight, including color vision, to observe patients, perform and visualize patient assessments, manipulate equipment, and visually read patient records, graphs, and test results;
- Hearing to communicate with patients and members of the health care delivery team, monitor patients using electronic equipment, and hear necessary sounds during operation of equipment;
- Speaking, reading, and writing skills to communicate effectively in English in a timely manner;
- Gross and fine motor coordination to exhibit excellent eye-hand coordination and dexterity to manipulate equipment, lift, stoop, and bend in the delivery of safe patient care;
- Physical strength and endurance to be on one’s feet for extended periods and move heavy equipment, patients, and supplies. Sitting, walking, bending, and reaching motions are also requirements for respiratory therapists;
- Intellectual, emotional, and psychological health and functioning to ensure patient safety and to exercise independent judgment and discretion in performing assigned tasks;
- Time management of multiple priorities, multiple stimuli, and fast-paced environments; and
- Analysis and critical-thinking skills.
PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAM
The college offers this program in affiliation with the healthcare agencies and practitioners in the communities the college serves. The college relies on its community affiliates to provide clinical education opportunities for its students, expert clinical preceptors, and course instructors for many courses. The often rapid changes in healthcare law, standards of practice, technology, and content of credentialing examinations increasingly necessitate sudden changes in the program’s course content, policies, procedures, and course scheduling. As a result, the college cannot guarantee every student continuous and uninterrupted clinical and course instruction as outlined in the printed catalog curriculum for this program. Circumstances beyond the control of the college may necessitate the postponement of course offerings or changes in the sequencing and/or location of scheduled courses or clinical assignments. Additionally, the college may have to change the instructor for courses after instruction has started.
PROGRAM CONTINUATION AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
A minimum grade of C is required in all Respiratory Therapy courses to remain in good academic standing and to progress in the program. Students who earn a grade of D or below in any Respiratory Therapy course are not eligible to continue to the next semester or to graduate from the program. In such cases, the student must reapply for admission to the Respiratory Therapy program in accordance with program policies.
REENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM
Should a student leave the program for any reason and subsequently wish to be readmitted, a new application must be submitted. The student’s new application will be reviewed under the competitive admissions process. If a student is readmitted into the program, an objective evaluation will be used to determine placement within the curriculum based on evaluated didactic and laboratory competencies. Students who leave the program for more than three semesters will be required to repeat the program in its entirety, including the background check, drug screen, immunization schedule and titers, physical examination, and a two-step TB test or T-Spot blood test. After two academic failures from the program, a student will not be eligible for re-entry.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
All applicants seeking to transfer into the Respiratory Therapy AAS program are required to meet all admission requirements. Students transferring from other respiratory therapy programs will be required to start and progress through the program with the next cohort of accepted students. Transfer credits will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Respiratory Therapy transfer applicants must have a written statement from the dean or program director of the respiratory therapy program the student is leaving indicating that they are in good standing and eligible to return to the previous institution.
CLINICAL CONTRACTS
Individual contracts are in effect with each affiliate clinical agency, and these contracts differ in requirements for students. The general stipulations are as follows:
- Clinical agencies reserve the right to dismiss a student from their agency at any time with due cause. This will be done with advanced notice except in an emergency.
- Proper uniform must be worn.
- Published hospital policies must be followed.
- Immunizations must be current.
- The student releases the facility, its agency, and employees from any liability for any injury or death to self or damage to personal property arising out of the clinical agreement or use of the facility.
- The student is financially responsible for any medical care required while in the clinical setting.
- The student must have a current American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support CPR certification for healthcare providers.
- A background check and drug screening are required for all entering students.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the regular college tuition and fees, the additional expenses may be required:
Respiratory Therapy AAS: Additional Expenses**
| Books and supplies |
$850 (first semester); $100 (fourth semester) |
| Bridge EXP* |
$40 |
| My Clinical Exchange* |
$90 |
| Clinical Trac* |
$250 |
| Self-Assessment Exit Exams* |
$300 |
| Seminar* |
$500 |
| Classmate* |
$150 |
| Identification badge |
$20 |
| Uniform, shoes, stethoscope |
$175 |
| DISA Healthcare Technology |
$190 |
| Physical Examination |
Approx. $300 |
| Immunization and titers |
Approx. $700 |
| Travel to clinical agencies |
Various |
* Miscellaneous fees
** Costs are approximate and subject to change
PROGRAM EXIT EXAMS
Every student is required to pass comprehensive exit exams before being added to the National Board for Respiratory Care’s electronic eligibility database. The cost of the exams must be paid through the Downtown Campus Bookstore.
PROGRAM ACCREDITATION AND PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
The Reynolds Community College Respiratory Therapy Program (CoARC #200301) is located in Richmond, Virginia. At the conclusion of the program, students are awarded an Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). 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.
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd
Telford TN 37690
817-283-2835
Graduates of the AAS program are eligible to take the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. Successful completion of the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination will award graduates the CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) credential and the possibility of becoming eligible to take the Clinical Simulation Examination. Successful completion of the Clinical Simulation Examination will award graduates the RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist) credential.
After obtaining the minimum CRT credential, graduates must apply for a license in the state they are seeking employment. State licensure is a process overseen by the Board of Medicine. Graduates are therefore responsible for licensure requirements and fees for that state. It is also the responsibility of graduates to maintain their credentials (CRT or RRT) through the National Board for Respiratory Care, Continuing Maintenance Program.
