Respiratory Care

The Respiratory Care program educates students to become registered respiratory therapists. Respiratory therapists are health care professionals that work at the bedside of patients with respiratory or breathing problems. Using patient interviews and chest exams, respiratory therapists assist in diagnosing pulmonary conditions and recommending treatment. Respiratory therapists consult with physicians and recommend changes in therapy based on evaluations of the patient. They analyze breathing, tissue and blood specimens to determine levels of oxygen and other gases. Respiratory therapists manage ventilators and artificial airway devices of patients in the neonatal, pediatric, or adult ICU who can’t breathe normally on their own. They respond to cardiac arrests, traumas, and other urgent calls for care in the ER and critical care units. Respiratory therapists also educate patients and families about lung disease to maximize their recovery. Additionally, respiratory therapists may also be found in home care, long-term ventilator-dependent, pulmonary rehabilitation, or pulmonary function facilities.

Program Description

The Respiratory Care program is a 24-month, six-semester program that begins in the fall semester. The Respiratory Care program is unique from other programs because students have clinical bedside experiences with their respiratory faculty every semester beginning in the first spring semester. Additionally, Respiratory Care students develop decision-making and critical thinking skills with the use of clinical simulation. Upon successful competition of the program, students earn an Associate in Applied Science degree and are eligible to take the National Board of Respiratory Care credentialing exams.

The AAS Degree Respiratory Therapy program located in Lancaster, PA, program number 200558, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). For more information, contact the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care at 264 Precision Boulevard, Telford, TN 37690 or (817) 283-2835.

Mission

The mission of the Respiratory Care program is to create a dynamic learning environment that educates its students to be compassionate, competent professionals that obtain the registered respiratory therapist credential. The program will facilitate critical thinking and independent learning as well as development of therapeutic skills to enable graduates to function effectively as part of the health care team.