Associate in Applied Science - Respiratory Care

As a Respiratory Therapist, prospective student will use a variety of sophisticated equipment and techniques to measure how a patient’s lungs and circulatory system are working in order to evaluate and monitor a patient’s respiratory health. Doctors and nurses rely on Respiratory Therapists’ specialized knowledge in areas such as use of oxygen and oxygen mixtures, and aerosol medications.

Students will work with a variety of patients, from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed, to elderly people who suffer from injury, severe illness, emphysema, chronic asthma, and other diseases. The other health care professionals on the team, as well as the patients, will depend upon students daily for the information they gather and the technical expertise they bring.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will:

• Demonstrate professional behavior consistent with employer expectations for advanced‐level respiratory therapists as documented by an employer survey with 90% of employers rating the graduate as acceptable or higher. • Demonstrate knowledge of professional behavior consistent with advanced‐level respiratory therapists as documented by a graduate survey with 90% of graduates rating the program as acceptable or higher in preparing them to display professional behavior in the workplace. • Demonstrate knowledge of the field of respiratory therapy consistent with advanced‐level respiratory therapists by passing the National Board for Respiratory Care’s Certified Respiratory Therapist and Registered Respiratory Therapist exams with a pass rate equal to or above the national average.