Respiratory Therapy Program FAQ

I understand that there is a criminal background check; could that affect my program status?

Yes it is a program requirement, but beyond that fact, there could be the possibility of being declined for program admission based on a criminal history. Also, even if accepted, the program handbook states that all students must be able to rotate to all clinical sites. If a student is declined based on Criminal background, they could be in a situation where they may not be able to finish the clinical courses, and hence would not be able to graduate. Criminal offenses may affect the ability to be licensed and as a result, that person would not be able to work as a Respiratory Therapist.
If you have any significant problems with your criminal background, you need to contact one of the health program counselors ASAP, to have the background evaluated by the Program Director.

I am confused I read online about Respiratory Therapy and there is the NBRC, AARC and licensure . What is the purpose of each of these organizations?

 The NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) is a credentialing organization provides high quality voluntary credentialing examinations for practitioners of respiratory therapy and pulmonary function technology; they also  establish standards to credential practitioners to work under medical direction; issue certificates to and prepare a directory of credentialed individuals; advance medicine by promoting use of respiratory care in treating human ailments; support ethical and educational standards of respiratory care for more information please go to http://www.nbrc.org/AboutUs_Mission.htm

Upon graduation you will take a Certification for Respiratory Therapy Examination (CRT) which you will need to pass to apply for a license. You will be unable to practice as a Respiratory Therapist without a license. The cost for this examination is ~$190.00

There is an advanced practitioner examinations that you will want to take , the Registered Respiratory Therapist, and the Clinical Simulation Exam. These exams prevent you from having to re-take the CRT 3 years of clinical practice. It is URGED to all graduates to take these exams immediately following the completion of the CRT. The statistics of student success plummet after 6months post graduation. The RRT & Clinical Simulation costs ~$390.00

The American Association for Respiratory Care AARC Since 1947, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) has been committed to enhancing professionalism in Respiratory Therapy. There are more than 42,000 members nationwide, the AARC is the only professional society for respiratory therapists in hospitals and with home care companies, managers of respiratory and cardiopulmonary services, and educators who provide respiratory care training.

AARC Vision/Mission Statement

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) will continue to be the leading national and international professional association for respiratory care. The AARC will encourage and promote professional excellence, advance the science and practice of respiratory care, and serve as an advocate for patients, their families, the public, the profession and the respiratory therapist. http://www.aarc.org/headlines/vision.asp

 
 

Are Respiratory Therapists licensed and how much will that cost?

You will need to apply for a license in the state that you are practicing in and complete a criminal background, and an ethics examination are part of this license application.
License application is ~ $130.00

Will I be able to work while attending this program?
Everyone’s personal experiences are different; however very rarely has a student that has been able to work more than 16 hours/week be successful full time Respiratory Therapy student. You need to work as little as possible, and be strongly committed to program success. The counseling office will be able to give you direction in applying for  financial aid.

Are there other costs that I might incur?

Yes you will need to travel to clinical sites, which will require an overnight stay. We have clinical sites in Wausau, Marshfield, and as far west as Minneapolis, Minnesota. We do have Clinical Contracts with local facilities such as Sacred Heart Hospital, and Luther-Midelfort Hospital. Graduates have informed us that they incurred ~$600.00 in travel and lodging costs.

Do I get to choose which clinical sites I go to?

To be a program student you must be able to rotate to any of the program clinical sites, if for whatever the reason you cannot rotate to any of our clinical sites you will not be able to meet all the program competencies. All  decisions as to placement are randomly selected, and these assignments are made by the Director of Clinical Education, and there cannot be any concessions due to ANY personal reasons, which would include the exclusion from clinical sites that would decline to have a student due to criminal background check information.

You said we have clinical sites in a number of cities, when do I have to be at the clinical sites?

 It varies, but many facilities start @ 6 am, and many of the shifts run 12 hour , which end ~ 6:30 pm which starts before local daycare facilities accept children , and ends after the time when daycare closes for child pickup. Success in the program will necessitate that you must have a support system in place to insure adequate care of children that you have care responcibilities




 

Do your students use the Simulation Center?

We utilize the Simulation Center in all semesters in the program. Your learning will be video taped and you must be comfortable with that to be a RT student. You will be required to sign a video release form, that gives the college the use of any photographs and/or video for educational or promotional use.

 
 
 

Are there any other requirements for participating in the program?

Yes there are essential functions that are required for program entry. The following are the essential function that is found in the program handbook.

Essential Functional Abilities and Representative Activities:

Gross Motor:   Move within confined spaces

    Reach above shoulders (e.g., IV poles)
    Reach below waist (e.g., plug electrical appliance into wall outlet)
    Reach out front

Fine Motor    Pick up objects with hands
Skills:    Grasp small objects with hands (e.g., IV tubing, pencil)
    Write with pen or pencil
    Key/type (e.g., use a computer)
    Pinch/pick otherwise work with fingers (e.g., manipulate a syringe)
    Twist (e.g., turn objects/knobs using hands)
    Squeeze with finger (e.g., eye dropper)

Physical    Stand (e.g., at client side during surgical or therapeutic procedure)
Endurance:    Sustain repetitive movements (e.g., CPR)
    Maintain physical tolerance (e.g., work entire shift)

Physical    Push and pull 50 pounds (e.g. position client, move equipment)
Strength:    Support 50 pounds of weight (e.g. ambulate client)
    Lift 50 pounds of weight (e.g., ambulate client)
    Defend self against combative client
    Carry equipment/supplies
    Use upper body strength (e.g., perform CPR, physically restrain a client)
    Squeeze with hands (e.g., operate fire extinguisher)

Mobility:    Twist
    Bend
    Stoop/squat
    Move quickly (e.g., response to an emergency)
    Climb stairs
    Walk

Hearing:    Hear normal speaking-level sounds (e.g., person-to-person report)
    Hear faint noises
    Hear faint body sounds (e.g., blood pressure sounds, assess placement of tubes)
    Hear in situations when not able to see lips (e.g., when masks are used)
    Hear auditory alarms (e.g., monitors, fire alarms, call bells)

Visual:    See objects up to 20 inches away (e.g., information on a computer screen, skin conditions)
    See objects up to 20 feet away (e.g. client in room)
    Use depth perception
    Use peripheral vision
    Distinguish color and color intensity (e.g., color codes on supplies, flushed skin/paleness

Tactile:    Feel vibrations (e.g., palpate pulses)
    Detect temperature (e.g., skin, solutions)
    Feel differences in surface characteristics (e.g., skin turgor, rashes)
    Feel differences in sizes, shapes (e.g., palpate vein, identify body landmarks)
    Detect environmental temperature

Smell:    Detect odors (e.g., foul smelling drainage, alcohol breath, smoke, gasses or noxious smells)

Environment:    Tolerance to allergens such as latex
    Tolerance to strong soaps
    Tolerance to strong odors

Reading:    Read and understand written documents (e.g., flow sheets, charts, graphs)
    Read digital displays

Math:    Comprehend graphic trends
    Calibrate equipment
    Convert numbers to and from metric System (e.g., dosages)
    Tell time
    Measure time (e.g., count duration of contractions, CPR, etc)
    Count rates (e.g., drips/minute, pulse)
    Read measurement marks (e.g., measurement tapes, scales)
    Add, subtract, multiply, and/or divide whole numbers
    Compute fractions and decimals (e.g., medication dosages)
    Document numbers in records

Emotional    Establish therapeutic boundaries
Stability:    Provide client with emotional support
    Adapt to changing environment/stress
    Deal with the unexpected (e.g., client condition, crisis)
    Focus attention on task
    Cope with own emotions
    Perform multiple responsibilities concurrently
    Cope with strong emotions in others (e.g., grief)

Analytical    Transfer knowledge from one situation to another
Thinking:    Process information from multiple sources
    Evaluate outcomes
    Problem solve
    Prioritize tasks
    Use long-term memory
    Use short-term memory

Critical    Identify cause-effect relationships
Thinking:    Plan/control activities for others
    Synthesize knowledge and skills
    Sequence information
    Make decisions independently
    Adapt decisions based on new information

Interpersonal    Establish rapport with clients
Skills:    Interact with families and groups
    Respect/value cultural differences in others
    Establish rapport with team members
    Negotiate interpersonal conflict

Communication    Teach (e.g., client/family about health care)
Skills:    Influence people
    Direct/manage/delegate activities of others
    Speak English
    Write English
    Listen/comprehend written/spoken word
    Collaborate with others (e.g., health care workers, peers)
    Manage information

Latex Allergies    The respiratory care field may involve contact with latex; learners will not be able to perform the duties that the respiratory care practitioners perform if they have latex allergies.

The faculty is committed to providing each student with the opportunity to successfully complete the Associate Degree Respiratory Care Program. Therefore, students requiring special accommodations or special services to meet these standards should contact the Disability Services department for assistance (833-6234).