Respiratory Therapy Associate Degree Program

What does a respiratory therapist do?

Respiratory therapists work closely with individuals suffering from breathing and cardiac disorders. They work in labs, nursing homes or other settings to evaluate and treat patients with breathing complications and provide life-saving measures that improve quality of life.

Here are some things respiratory therapists do:

• Monitor response to respiratory therapies by checking patients’ vitals
• Provide temporary relief to patients with asthma or emphysema
• Perform emergency assistance to victims of heart attacks, stroke, drowning or shock
• Place oxygen masks or nasal cannulas when needed
• Treat patients using tools such as oxygen, chest physiotherapy and aerosol medication
• Teach patients and families how to operate ventilators or other life-support equipment²

²California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Respiratory Therapists in California

RT Program Overview

The American Career College Respiratory Therapy (RT) program is designed to help you acquire the knowledge and training to evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory therapists care for a variety of patients, both young and old, whose lungs are not fully developed or may be diseased.

The Respiratory Therapy program at ACC offers a combination of classroom, laboratory and clinical studies that will allow you to develop a range of skills relevant to the roles and responsibilities of a respiratory therapist, which include the following tasks:

• Provide emergency care, interview patients, perform limited physical examinations and conduct diagnostic tests
• Determine requirements for treatment including type, duration, method and precautions necessary
• Execute effective plans and protocols to assist patients so they can breathe comfortably
• Operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems or aerosol generators

Through the Respiratory Therapy program, ACC aims to help you graduate with the confidence and qualifications you need to begin your career as a RT.* After successfully completing the RT program, you will be eligible to sit for the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exams (written and clinical simulation) offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). **

Goals & Outcomes

Goals

To prepare 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).

Upon completion of respiratory therapist school, the graduate will be able to:

1. Perform clinically as a competent advanced-level respiratory therapist
2. Exemplify critical thinking and judgment skills
3. Demonstrate personal and professional behavior consistent with a respiratory therapist
4. Earn Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider (PALS), and Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP) certifications
5. Become a registered respiratory therapist
6. Characterize the philosophies of lifelong learning and professional growth by participating in continued education and community research
7. Demonstrate the social skills, professional appearance, attitudes and behavior that employers expect of all American Career College graduates
8. Relate and apply concepts of communication, reasoning, critical analysis, ethical behavior and appropriate interpersonal interactions to situations in his or her career and personal life

Outcomes

Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the goals of the program are achieved and determine whether the program is effective.

The Respiratory Therapy (Associate of Occupational Science) programs in Anaheim and Ontario are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). CoARC 264 Precision Blvd., Telford, TN 37690; Phone (817) 283-2835 / Fax (817) 510-1063 / www.coarc.com. The Respiratory Therapy (Associate of Occupational Science) program (#200657) at the American Career College – Los Angeles Campus holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report [PSSR] and any other documentation required by the CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit), to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.

Programmatic outcomes data reported on the CoARC website include the following data:

• 3-year time period being reported
• RRT credentialing success
• Attrition
• Job placement
• Overall graduate satisfaction
• Overall employer satisfaction
• Total number of program enrollees
• Total number of program graduates
• Maximum annual enrollment

**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. CoARC Website

Am I a good fit for the Respiratory Therapist program?

If you love working with technical equipment and enjoy working directly with people, ACC’s Respiratory Therapist program might be right for you.

Here are some of the top skills and attributes that make for a great respiratory therapist:

Active listening – A top skill for respiratory therapists is being able to listen and understand the needs of each patient.

Service orientation – A great respiratory therapist is one with a passion for helping patients and for providing the best care possible.

Instructing – Respiratory therapists educate patients and their families on their conditions and the use of respiratory equipment. They should be able to explain things in a way that patients are able to understand.

Operations monitoring – Respiratory therapists should be able to monitor any relevant machinery, including watching gauges, dials or other indicators.

Quality control – Respiratory therapists inspect, clean, test and maintain equipment. Good quality control skills can help them ensure they are always providing treatment using well-maintained equipment.

Interesting Facts¹

• Conditions affecting the general population, such as smoking, air pollution and respiratory emergencies, will continue to create demand for respiratory therapists.
• Growth in the middle-aged and elderly population will lead to an increased number of respiratory conditions, resulting in an increased demand for respiratory therapy services and treatments, mostly in hospitals and nursing homes.
• Many respiratory therapists belong to professional societies such as the California Society for Respiratory Care (CSRC) and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), which provide their members with various benefits and services, including continuing education opportunities and products and services related to the profession.²

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Respiratory Therapists

Where do respiratory therapists work?

Respiratory therapists can work in a variety of settings, including:

• General medical and surgical hospitals
• Outpatient care centers
• Labs
• Nursing care facilities²

²California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Respiratory Therapists in California

What will I learn in the Respiratory Therapy program?

The curriculum in the Respiratory Therapy program is divided into eight, 10-week quarters. Students will begin with general education, anatomy and physiology and core respiratory therapy. The program will conclude with clinical practicum courses.

Clinical experience in an appropriate hospital or clinical setting is required for successful completion of the school's program. These clinical rotations, which begin in quarter five, comprise a total of 720 hours.

Respiratory therapy core courses include the following:

Respiratory Procedures I – This course introduces students to basic respiratory care treatments and support modalities, including set up, use and troubleshooting of equipment, concepts related to the therapeutic administration of oxygen & aerosol therapy in respiratory care and concepts & techniques surrounding sampling/proper handling and transport of arterial blood gases. Focus is placed on adherence to techniques ensuring appropriate infection control practices and patient safety. Students will learn to conduct physical and clinical exams and patient assessments to determine/develop appropriate and effective treatment plans.

Neonatal/Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology – This course is a study of fetal development of the cardiopulmonary system, respiratory care of neonatal and pediatric patients, as well as causes and treatment of respiratory illnesses. Students will gain an understanding of patient evaluation, monitoring and therapeutic modalities seen with common neonatal and pediatric disorders, including respiratory distress syndrome, intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, common respiratory infections in the infant and pediatric population and pediatric trauma.

Critical Care Monitoring – In this course, you will study critical care monitoring of particular patient populations, such as open-heart and pediatric patients, hemodynamic monitoring, ventilator waveform analysis and capnography. Proper reading of monitors, accurate interpretation of readings, strengths and shortcomings of various hemodynamic monitoring modalities will be discussed.

Respiratory Care Review – This course is intended as a final preparation for graduation and attempting the NBRC board exams (both CRT and RRT exams). You will review subject matter in all major core areas of the respiratory care program. By the end of this course, all students must take and pass the written SAE for both the CRT and RRT exams and pass the required number of Clinical Simulations from the registry exam SAE.

Clinical Practicum I – This course is an introduction to the clinical environment. Emphasis will be placed on developing skills of patient assessment, observation, modification of therapy, development of patient care plans and documentation to the patient care record. You will complete a minimum of five chart reviews by the end of this practicum in order to demonstrate locating and appropriately collecting patient data from the medical record.

For a complete description of coursework in these modules, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

How long is the Respiratory Therapy program?

Students can earn their associate degree in respiratory therapy in as little as 20 months.

How much does the Respiratory Therapy program cost?

Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you figure out respiratory therapist school costs and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Respiratory Therapy program cost, access our tuition info.

Is financial aid available?

Yes, financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

Will I get real-world respiratory therapist training?

Yes! ACC's Respiratory Therapy program includes over 700 hours of clinicals which gives students the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills they acquired learning hands-on throughout the training program.