Respiratory Therapy

School of Allied Health & Exercise Studies
College of Professional & Technical Studies
Davis Career Center
740-245-7301 office; 740-245-7440 fax

Mission Statement

In accordance with the mission of URG/RGCC, the Respiratory Therapy program is designed to provide an educational program that will prepare students to practice as qualified Respiratory Care Practitioners and to serve the community healthcare agencies by graduating competent and experienced Respiratory Care Practitioners. The program will build a solid foundation from which graduates can evolve with the changing respiratory therapy environment to grow into well-respected healthcare professionals.

Respiratory Therapy is a health-care discipline that specializes in the production of optimal cardiopulmonary function and health. Respiratory therapists apply scientific principles to prevent, identify, and treat acute or chronic dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary system. Knowledge of the scientific principles, underlying cardiopulmonary physiology and pathophysiology, as well as biomedical engineering and technology, enable the respiratory therapist to effectively assess, educate, and treat patients.

As a healthcare profession, respiratory therapy is practiced under medical direction across the healthcare continuum. Respiratory therapy is specifically focused on the assessment, treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation, education, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system, as well as on the prevention of the development of these deficiencies. Critical thinking, patient and environment assessment skills, and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines enable respiratory therapists to develop and implement effective care plans, therapist-driven protocols, disease-based clinical pathways, and disease management programs.

Accreditation

The Respiratory Therapy Program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX 76021, 1-817-283-2835, www.coarc.com/.

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care

The Respiratory Therapy program at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College has been selected by CoARC to receive the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award three years in a row. The RRT is considered the advanced level credential for the field of Respiratory Therapy. To be eligible for this award the program must have outcome data, meet or exceed all thresholds for accreditation, and demonstrate outstanding credentialing success by the program’s graduates. Receiving this honor is a tribute to the commitment of the students, graduates, and all staff members of the Respiratory Therapy program at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College.

Facilities

The lecture and lab classes are held in Davis Career Center.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Program Admittance

Prospective applicants to the Respiratory Therapy program should begin by applying for general admission/acceptance status to the University of Rio Grande, which can be done by completing an application or by logging onto www.rio.edu and completing the online admissions application. There is no admissions fee for applying online. Identify your “intended major field of study” as Allied Health - Associate Degree.

You must also complete the School of Allied Health’s Respiratory Therapy Program online application, available at https://www.rio.edu/academics/find-yourprogram/respiratory-therapy by February 1 of the year you are seeking fall admission.

It is the student’s responsibility to see that the University has an official copy of his/her high school and/or college transcript(s) and the online Respiratory Therapy Program Application by February 1, when the selection process will begin. It is also the student’s responsibility to submit copies of his/her high school and/or college transcript(s) to the RCP online by February 1. No application will be considered without complete documentation.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet all University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College admission requirements.
Students must be admitted to URG/RGCC by February 1 to be considered for fall program admission.
Students must take the URG placement exam to determine placement into math and English courses. Students must submit an Allied Health Technology- Respiratory Therapy Program online application form with copies of high school and/or college transcripts by February 1 to be considered for fall program admission, once all academic requirements have been met. Supplementary applications are good for one year only. After students are selected for the next academic year, all applications will be discarded. Students not accepted into the program must reapply each year.
Acceptance into the program is very competitive because of the limited spaces available. The number of students admitted each fall will be based upon clinical site availability. Application to the program will be reviewed and tallied based on an objective point system. The point system awards points for GPA, pre-interview test results, life experience points, college credits, and individual interview performance. Admission to the program will be awarded to those applicants who achieve the highest amount of points.
Approval of interview panel selection by the Program Director is required for admission.
Six hours of job shadowing of respiratory therapy must be completed prior to the interview in order to be interviewed.
Only students who are officially admitted into the Respiratory Therapy program can take the RCP courses.

Academic Requirements

High school or college cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher. (High school seniors may apply without attending a year of college first.) Students with GEDs must successfully complete 24 semester hours of college coursework as a full-time student or successful completion of 24 semester hours in consecutive semesters (excluding summers) with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. The courses taken must be general courses required in the two-year associate degree RCP program.
Completed one unit each of high school biology, algebra, and chemistry or college-level equivalents; all with a minimum grade of “C.”
Developmental courses (if needed) in English, writing, and math must be completed before admission into the program. This is determined by taking the university’s placement exam.
CPR certification must be maintained throughout enrollment in the program.
Prerequisite courses must be completed before admittance to RCP classes.
Take an entrance exam given in the Spring semester before interviews are conducted (after application deadline).

Health Requirements

Vision Capabilities: Normal or corrected refraction within the range of 20/20 to 20/60. Distinguish between color shades.
Hearing Capabilities: Possess normal or corrected hearing abilities within 0-45 decibel range.
Motor Capabilities: Maneuver large equipment weighing between 100-150 lbs. without assistance. Lift a minimum of 25 lbs. without assistance using proper body mechanics. Assist in lifting patients using proper body mechanics. Stand for extended periods of time. Walk without assistance long distances maneuvering equipment or transporting patients.
Language Capabilities: Communicate verbally with patient, patient families, coworkers, and other medical personnel.
Mental Capabilities: Think and act quickly to emergency situations. Cope with stress. Comprehend daily work activities.
Other: Pass pre-clinical drug testing as well as any random drug testing. Pre-clinical drug testing as well as any additional drug testing will be the financial responsibility of the student. All immunizations should be up-to-date.

Programs

Associate of Applied Science

Respiratory Therapy, A.A.S.

Courses

Pharmacy Technician

Respiratory Therapy