A.S. Degree, Respiratory Care

Degree Type: AS
Major Code: RESPR-AS
CIP: 1351090800
Former CIP: 1317081800

Respiratory care is a challenging and rewarding health care specialty that addresses the needs of patients who have deficiencies and abnormalities in their cardiac and pulmonary systems. Under the direction of a physician, respiratory care practitioners manage, treat and evaluate patients with breathing problems. The respiratory therapist works in acute care, sub-acute care, home care or other health care facilities. Respiratory care services include specific testing techniques to assist in research, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of those with cardiopulmonary disorders.

The Respiratory Care program at Seminole State is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com; CoARC, 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX 76021-4244; 817.283.2835).

Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care examinations for Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

This is a limited-access program. Candidates must:

• Apply and be accepted to Seminole State College;
• Complete the College Placement Test (CPT) or equivalent;
• Provide an official transcript(s) indicating successful completion of a standard high school diploma or equivalent;
• Submit a completed respiratory care application.

Respiratory applications are available at www.seminolestate.edu/respiratory, by attending a respiratory care information session. Dates of upcoming information sessions can be found on the respiratory care website. All students are required to complete a criminal background check. Students must be free of offenses that could potentially disqualify them from working in a health care environment (Florida Statutes 456.0635, 435.04 and 316.193) and are subject to hospital or clinical agency approval.

Students applying for admission to the Respiratory Care Program are required to complete a drug screening and an FBI criminal background check including:

• Online check of the Office of the Inspector General related to parties excluded from participation in Medicare/Medical and all federal healthcare programs.
• Online search of U.S. General Services Administration of parties excluded from federal procurements and non-procurements programs.

The Application Selection Process:

All applications must meet the following requirements to be considered:

• An overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Successful completion of the following courses with a grade of "C" or higher:
  
  • BSC2093C Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 credit hrs.
  • ENC1101 English I, 3 credit hrs.
  • Eligible for College Algebra (through test scores or completion of prerequisite course(s)).

If applications meeting the above criteria are greater than the number of seats available in the program, applications will be prioritized into the following criteria:

Category 1:

• Successful completion of ALL of the required respiratory care general education courses with a grade of "C" or higher and an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Category 2:

• Successful completion of requirements to be considered for admission (BSC 2093C, ENC 1101, and eligible for College Algebra) with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The more general education classes students complete, the more competitive they will be.

Applicants who have not completed all of the general education courses must include a Plan of Completion form with their applications.

Major Courses

RET1025C

Principles of Respiratory Care This is a course and laboratory experience designed for the beginning respiratory care student. An introduction and working knowledge of the basic principles of state-of-the-art equipment operation and therapeutic objectives for the administration of medical gases, humidity, aerosol, therapy modalities and airway management. Lab fee required.

4

RET1264C

Principles of Mechanical Ventilation This course is a lecture and laboratory experience introducing mechanical function of equipment used in the continuous and intermittent ventilation of patients. Course content includes indications, contraindications and hazards of continuous ventilation with significance given to ventilator management and monitoring techniques. Hands-on laboratory experiences are designed to prepare students for actual clinical situations. Lab fee required.

4

RET1275C

Clinical Care Techniques This course presents basic principles and essential skills necessary to perform patient care safely and effectively. Information includes medical asepsis, terminology, communication, patient assessment and positioning, medical ethics and behavioral problems unique to patients with respiratory illness. An orientation to the clinical rotation is also given. Students must maintain a "C" through the didactic portion to participate in the clinical setting. Lab fee required.

6

RET1295C

Chest Medicine This course allows respiratory therapy students to investigate the nature and cause of cardiopulmonary diseases which involve changes in structure and function. The etiology, clinical manifestation, pathogenesis, laboratory data and treatment for major chronic and acute cardiopulmonary disease entities will be presented. Lab fee required.

4

RET1450C

Basic Physiological Monitoring This is a lecture-laboratory course designed to present invasive and non-invasive monitoring and diagnostic evaluation of patients. Cardiopulmonary assessment is presented utilizing pulmonary function, chest roentgenography, hemodynamic monitoring and general laboratory tests. Lab fee required.

3

RET1485C

Cardiopulmonary Physiology This course covers physiological functions including acid base relationships, gas perfusion, functions of ventilatory control, ventilation perfusion analysis, cardiopulmonary and renal hemodynamics and blood gas analysis. Laboratory exercises consistent with didactic material are incorporated into the course. Lab fee required.

4

RET1874L

Clinical Practice I This course provides supervised clinical experiences which emphasize fundamental respiratory therapy procedures. Lab fee required.

4

RET1875L

Clinical Practice II This course covers the integration of clinical practice and knowledge for the advanced student. Students receive clinical experience in adult intensive care units with an emphasis on mechanic ventilator management. Lab fee required.

4

RET2244

Life Support In this course advanced cardiopulmonary assessment diagnostic and monitoring techniques will be emphasized. Cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, advanced pulmonary function studies, modes of ventilation and new innovations will be stressed. Lab fee required.

3

RET2350

Pharmacology This course deals with the history of pharmacology, regulatory agencies and laws concerning the use of medications. Drug actions, absorption, distribution and use in the human body are discussed. The course places emphasis on respiratory drugs, cardiac drugs and related drugs that the therapist is exposed to in the hospital.

3

RET2714C

Pediatric Respiratory Care Respiratory care of the neonate and pediatric patient is presented with special emphasis on physiology, pulmonary complications and related general and intensive care procedures. Also included is neonatal transportation and assessment of the sick newborn and child. Lab fee required.

4

RET2876L

Clinical Practice III The student will receive supervised clinical experience emphasizing advanced modes of mechanical ventilation, patient transport and advanced hemodynamic monitoring. During this clinical rotation, students will also rotate through the neonatal and pediatric critical care units. Lab fee required.

4

RET2877L

Clinical Practice IV The clinical rotation will be in specialty areas of adult, pediatric and neonatal medicine. Clinical skills will focus on adult and pediatric ventilator management, weaning, extubation and hemodynamic assessment. Conferences will be used to assess learning objectives and present cases. During the semester, students will be given the opportunity to become certified in ACLS and NRP. Lab fee required.

4

Humanities or History Elective

3

General Education Courses

BSC2093C

Anatomy and Physiology I This is the first part of a two-semester course that investigates in detail the structure and function of humans. The course is primarily designed for students of healthcare professions, biology or physical education. We will utilize a "system" approach, examining each organ system at the cellular, tissue, organ and system levels and discuss interactions with other systems. Emphasis will be placed on the homeostatic rather than the dysfunctional individual. Lab fee required.

4

BSC2094C

Anatomy and Physiology II This course is the second part of a two-semester course that investigates the structure and function of humans. The course is designed for students of healthcare professions, biology or physical education. We utilize a "systems" approach, examining each organ system at the cellular, tissue, organ and system levels and discuss interactions with other systems. Emphasis will be placed on homeostatic rather than dysfunctional individuals. Lab fee required.

4

ENC1101

English I This is a course in the process of expository writing. Students will read essays and compose papers that are unified, organized, logically developed and supported, clearly stated and well-focused. Research techniques are introduced and incorporated into at least one composition. This course partially satisfies the writing requirement of S.B.E. 6A-10.030. Students must pass the core assignments with a grade of "C" or higher.

3

MCB2010C

Microbiology This fundamental course in Microbiology is designed to fulfill the needs of nursing students as well as other allied health majors. The course stresses the structure, nutrition, growth, control, metabolism and introductory genetics of bacteria. An introduction to fungi, parasites and viruses is included. Laboratory experience in techniques and primary isolation will be provided. Lab fee required.

4

PSY2012

General Psychology This is an introductory course which surveys the field of psychology and basic principles and concepts utilized to understand human behavior. The major areas of study include development, learning, perception, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal behavior, psychotherapy and testing measurements. This course partially satisfies the writing requirement of S.B.E. 6A-10.030.

3

Select a science course

CHM1032C

Foundations of College Chemistry This is a one-semester course designed to serve as a preparation for CHM 2045C and to meet the chemistry requirement for applicable health professions. It assumes no prior chemistry background. Topics covered include problem-solving, atomic and molecular structure, chemical formulas and nomenclature, chemical reactions, bonding models, stoichiometry, gas laws, solutions, acids/bases, an introduction to organic chemistry and other selected topics. Lab fee required.

4

or higher level chemistry course

or

PHY1001

Physics This course emphasizes the basic concepts and principles of physics and their practical applications. Designed specifically for students in non-engineering technical studies and for others wishing to strengthen their physics background before taking General Physics.

3

and

PHY1001L

Physics Laboratory This course is a laboratory sequence to PHY 1001. Experiments will be selected to illustrate and reinforce the physics concepts introduced in the physics class. Lab fee required.

1

or higher level physics course

Total Credits:

76

Note:

• Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees are designed to prepare graduates for immediate entry into their chosen career field. A.S. degree graduates may transfer into certain baccalaureate programs. Students planning to transfer to baccalaureate programs should consult with Student Affairs counselors, advisors or specialists to make sure required courses are taken and entry requirements are met for the college/university program of their choice.