| OCR Text |
Show RESPIRATORY THEARAPY Joyce E. Wanta, Program Director Elizabeth Morton, Clinical Coordinator Gary Goucher, Medical Director Associate Professor: Joyce E. Wanta; Instructor: Ron Koncher, Ran- don Parker, Gary White. Adjunct and Clinical Faculty (see faculty listings). Description —60% and 80% of all hospitalized patients receive some form of respiratory therapy. Twelve percent of all patients undergoing surgery have post-operative pulmonary problems. Respiratory therapy is instrumental in the diagnosis, treatment, management, control and preventive care of patients with cardiopulmonary problems. These patients may be found in the newborn nursery, the surgical and medical wards, the emergency room, the outpatient department and the intensive care unit of the hospital. They may be suffering from a variety of acute and chronic conditions that are either life threatening or disabling. While intensive respiratory care is essential, the day-to-day respiratory care is also important. Respiratory therapy personnel, working from the written orders of a physician, carry out specific therapeutic measures to assist the respiratory distressed patient. Respiratory care practitioners must be competent in such areas as medical gas administration (including oxygen), humidification, aerosols, hyperinflation techniques, bronchopulmonary drainage and exercises, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, airway management, pulmonary function studies, blood-gas analysis, and physiological status, astute patient care and observation by trained respiratory therapy personnel is essential. Respiratory care practitioners are "life-support" specialists. Education —The respiratory therapy program follows a career-ladder approach from entry level (technician) through a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health. Students may exit at two years (Entry Level), three years (Therapist Level) or finish a bachelor of science program. Entry Level (Technician) Program— Is two academic years and leads to a minimum of an associate of applied science degree. Therapist Level — Is three academic years and leads to a minimum of an associate of science degree. Admission Process —To be eligible for consideration in the selection of the official respiratory therapy class, each candidate must: (1) be admitted to Weber State College; (2) submit a respiratory therapy program application; (3) present overall high school and/or college achievement record of minimum 2.00 for Entry Level and 2.50 for Therapist Level; (4) be interviewed by a respiratory therapy faculty member; (5) declare or change major to Respiratory Therapy; and (6) complete (or be enrolled in) all prerequisite respiratory therapy courses with a "C" or better grade. All six of the above steps must be completed prior to March 1st each year. Conditional selection of students into the Entry Level Program is made at the end of spring quarter. Selection into the Therapist Level Program is also made at the end of spring 122 Respiratory Therapy quarter. Clinical and didactic performance during Entry Level training will be an important aspect of selection into this level of preparation. Details regarding admission to any of the Respiratory Therapy Program levels are available on request from the Respiratory Therapy Program, Annex 3, Box 1102, or the School of Allied Health Science Admissions Office, Box 1601, Weber State College. Employment Outlook —Therapists work primarily in hospitals. Most positions require credentialling at some level by the National Board for Respiratory Therapy. Employment opportunities are good to excellent. 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 Therapists are also employed outside the hospital as consultants, marketing representatives and research specialist by related commercial firms. Program: Entry Level Respiratory Therapy Practitioner (Technician) — Associate of Applied Science Degree I. General Requirements: A. A minimum of 91 credit hours. B. The required courses in major field. C. English 101. D. English 103 or Communication 102. E. 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. II. Specific Requirements: A. Biomedical core or acceptable equivalent* requirements (15 credit hours): Health Sciences 111 (5), 112 (5), 113 (5). B. Respiratory Therapy courses required (47 credit hours): Respiratory Therapy 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). C. Support courses required (20 credit hours): Mathematics 102 (4); Health Sciences 120 (4), 130 (3), 140 (2), 150 (4); Psychology 101 (5) or 154 (3); Physical Education (any one course). 'Acceptable equivalent: Zoology 421 (5). 422 (5) and Physics 101 (5): or Zoology 201 (5), 202 (3) and Physics 101 (5): and Microbiology 111 (5), Chemistry 101 (5). 123 1 Jirtiir Humanities Business i Economics CUuLdlruil Rauriir _4S#eii C£!L Social ^jyaerjces. Tophnnlnn I uuiiiiuiuyy j m |
