72 Respiratory Therapy Employment Outlook Therapists work primarily in hospitals. Most positions require credentials at some level by the National Board of Respiratory Therapy. Employment opportunities are good. Related Careers Respiratory Therapy training, because of its diversity and depth, provides excellent background for other Allied Health specialties such as; paramedics, cardiopulmonary technology, biomedical technology, nursing, anesthesia technology, chest physical therapy and physician assistants. Respiratory care practitioners are also employed outside the hospital as consultants, marketing representatives, research assistants and home-care providers. Program: Entry Level Respiratory Therapy Practitioner (Technician) Associate of Applied Science Degree * General Requirements: A minimum of 92 credit hours. The required courses in major field. Engl 101. Engl 102 or Commun 102. General Education requirements may be satisfied by taking one course from both the Humanities area and the Personal Development area, besides the prescribed courses listed below. Specific Requirements: Biomedical core or acceptable equivalent** requirements (15 credit hours): Hthsci 111 (5), 112 (5), 113 (5). Respiratory Therapy courses required (47 credit hours): Resthy 154 (3), 214 (3), 215 (3), 216 (3), 220 (5), 221 (5), 223 (3), 225 (3). 226 (3), 227 (3), 270 (2), 271 (4), 272 (5). Support courses required (20 credit hours): Math 101 (5) or 17 or above on special ACT Math proficiency exam; Hthsci 120 (4), 230 (3); Resthy 140 (2) or current CPR certification at the basic provider level; Hthsci 150; Psych 101 (5) or 154 (3). * A student may qualify for a full Associate of Science degree by completing the above program and the necessary additional general education courses. **Acceptable equivalent: Zool 421 (5), 422 (5) and Phsx 101 (5); or Zool 201 (5), 202 (3) and Phsx 101 (5); and Micro 111 (5), Chem 101 (5). Program: Respiratory Therapist. Associate of Science Degree* General Requirements A minimum of 138 credit hours. The required courses in major field. English and Physical Education requirements. General Education requirements. Specific Requirements: Biomedical core or acceptable equivalent** requirements (15 credit hours): Hthsci 111 (5), 112 (5), 113 (5). Respiratory Therapy courses required (80 credit hours): Resthy 154 (3), 214 (3), 215, (3), 216 (3), 220 (5), 221 (5), 223 (5), 225 (3), 226 (3), 227 (3), 270 (2), 271 (4), 272 (5), 321 (3), 322 (3), 323 (3), 326 (3), 327 (3), 328 (3), 376 (5), 377 (5), 378 (5). Support courses required (20 credit hours): Math 101 (5) or 17 or above on special ACT Math proficiency exam; Hthsci 120 (4), 230 (3); Resthy 140 (2) or current CPR certification at the basic provider level; Hlthsci 150 (4); Psych 101 (5) or 154 (3); PE (any _one course). *While a full Associate of Science degree is an appropriate expectation at this program level, it is recognized that circumstances sometimes prevent total achievement of that goal. Therefore, a student may (if necessary] opt for an Associate of Applied Science, following counseling with the program director. **Acceptable equivalent: Zool 421 (5), 422 (5); and Phsx 101 (5); or Zool 201 (5), 202 (3) and Phsx 101 (5); and Micro 111 (5), Chem (5). Respiratory Therapy Courses 140. Basic Cardiopulmonary Resusitation (2) A course designed to provide the learner with the basic skills and knowledge required to perform effective mouth-to-mouth breathing and external cardiac compression of the victim of cardiopulmonary arrest. 154. Survey of Respiratory Therapy (3) This course is designed to introduce allied health and other students to respiratory therapy as a profession. It includes field trips, group discussions, lecture/demonstrations and limited lab activities. Open to all students. 214. Introduction to Therapeutic Modalities Lab (3) Introductory laboratory course emphasizing basic patient care skills and the administration of medical gases, humidity and pharmacologic agents. 215. Basic Therapeutic Modalities Lab (3) Laboratory course emphasizing patient care skills relating to artificial ventilation techniques and equipment. 216. Equipment Management Lab (3) Survey of equipment used by the respiratory care practitioner in a modern hospital; including decontamination procedures, inventory systems and troubleshooting. 220. Therapeutic Modalities in Oxygen and Humidity (5) Theoretical basis for administration of medical gases, humidity and pharmacologic agents. 221. Elementary Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology (5) Cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology specifically for the entry level respiratory care practitioner. 223. Introduction to Airway Management and Mechanical Ventilation (5) Introduction to airway management and mechanical ventilation. Emphasis on airway care, classification of ventilators, management of continuous ventilation. 225. Basic Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology (3) Synopsis of medical/surgical cardiopulmonary problems for the entry level practitioner. Etiology, symptomatology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the problem is presented, along with case studies. 226. Continuous Ventilatory Support (3) Concepts of ventilatory management with emphasis on special procedures, invasive/non-invasive monitoring and quantitative measurements. 73 Respiratory Therapy 227. Elementary Cardiopulmonary Technology (3) Basic pulmonary function studies and blood gas analysis. 270. Clinical Applications (2) To be taken fall quarter concurrently with the second year required respiratory therapy didactic courses. 271. Clinical Applications (4) To be taken winter quarter concurrently with the second year required respiratory therapy didactic courses. 272. Clinical Applications (5) To be taken spring quarter concurrently with the second year required respiratory therapy didactic courses. 273. Clinical Applications (4) For special clinical experiences, to be arranged with instructor. Limited enrollment. Permission of instructor required. 280. Independent Projects (1-5) Special independent projects as contracted with instructor; enrollment by permission only. 283. Directed Readings (1-3) Directed Readings. Limited to respiratory therapy majors. 292. Short Courses, Workshops, Institutes and Special Programs (1-6) In order to provide flexibility and to meet many different needs, a number of specific offerings are possible using this catalog number. When the number is used it will be accompanied by a brief and specific descriptive title. The specific title with the credit authorized for the particular offering will appear on the student transcript. 321. Advanced Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology (3) Cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology specifically for the therapist level; includes material on developmental anatomy and physiology as well as the renal system. 322. Advanced Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology (3) An in-depth consideration of medical/surgical (and trauma) cardiopulmonary pathophysiology. Includes case studies, lab data evaluation and physician lectures. 323. Advanced Cardiopulmonary Technology (3) Advanced diagnostic procedures and interpretive skills in pulmonary function and blood gas analysis. 326. Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care (3) Pediatric and neonatal-respiratory care with emphasis on intensive care activities, therapeutic procedures, monitoring systems and perinatal pathophysiology. 327. Adult Critical Care (3) Advanced adult respiratory intensive care, including hemodynamic monitoring, ven-tilation/perfusion monitoring, pulmonary assessment and airway management. 328. Home and Rehabilitative Respiratory Care (3) This course is designed to teach the student to assist the physician in planning, monitoring and modifying treatment and rehabilitative modalities for the home-care patient. 376. Clinical Applications (5) To be taken concurrently with Resthy 326. Enrollment by permission only. 377. Clinical Applications (5) To be taken concurrently with Resthy 327, enrollment by permission only. 378. Clinical Applications (5) To be taken concurrently with Resthy 328; enrollment by permission only. 480. Independent Projects (1-5) Special independent projects as contracted with instructor; enrollment by permission only. 483. Directed Readings (1-3) Activities to be arranged with instructor; limited to respiratory therapy students. 499. Seminar in Respiratory Therapy (2) A student oriented course exploring current concepts in respiratory therapy and health care in general. Current events in respiratory therapy, including legislation, is the primary emphasis.