Respiratory Care

Mission Statement

The mission of the respiratory therapy program is to provide the instruction and resources necessary to enable individuals to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will allow the student to become successful and competent professional Respiratory Therapists.

Vision

It is the desire of the program faculty to continue to develop a Respiratory Care program whose graduates and faculty enjoy a reputation for excellence. 

Purpose & Goals

• Provide instruction necessary to prepare graduates to function as competent Respiratory Therapists  at  the  “Advanced  Practitioner”  level  as  defined  by  the  profession  with demonstrate  competence  in   the  cognitive  (knowledge),  psychomotor  (skills),  and affective (behavior) learning domains of  Respiratory Care as performed by registered Respiratory Therapists.
• To help satisfy the need in the local and regional communities for competent Respiratory Therapists.

• 17 years of age or older
• High school graduate or GED recipient
• Official transcript of all post-secondary coursework
• Respiratory Care Application
• Minimum ACT or Compass scores
• Documentation of Observation Hours Form *Currently encouraged, but not required*
• Documentation of attendance at a Respiratory Care pre-admission conference
• All developmental coursework must be taken prior to program admission
• CPR course must be completed prior to admission
• Successful completion of pre-requisite courses with a "C" or higher

Attendance at one conference is mandatory in order to be considered for admission to the Respiratory Therapy Program in January 2025.

If you are unable to attend or have any questions, please contact Marlene at (606) 780-6308, marlene.vice@kctcs.edu or Sarah Dreger at (606) 780-6311,  sarah.dreger@kctcs.edu 

Program Competencies

Upon completion of the Respiratory Care Program, the student can:

1. Communicate Effectively
   1. Read and listen with comprehension
   2. Speak and write clearly using Standard English.
   3. Interact cooperatively with others using both verbal and non-verbal means.
   4. Demonstrate information processing through basic computer skills.
2. Think Critically
   1. Make connections in learning across the disciplines and draw logical conclusions
   2. Demonstrate problem solving through interpreting, analyzing, summarizing, and/or integrating a variety of materials.
   3. Use mathematics to organize, analyze, and synthesize data to solve a problem.
3. Learn Independently
   1. Use appropriate search strategies and resources to find, evaluate, and use information.
   2. Make choices based upon awareness of ethics and differing perspectives/ideas.
   3. Apply learning in academic, personal and public situations.
   4. Think creatively to develop new ideas, processes, or products.
4. Examine Relationships in Complex Environments
   1. Recognize the relationship of the individual to human heritage.
   2. Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of the individual to the biological and physical environment.
   3. Develop an awareness of self as an individual member of a global community.
5. Perform cardiopulmonary diagnostic procedures, patient assessment, and Respiratory Care plan.
6. Administer therapeutic and life support procedures in the management of patients with cardiopulmonary impairment.
7. Evaluate appropriateness of prescribed Respiratory Care and recommend modifications where needed.
8. Select, assemble, check correct malfunctions, and assure cleanliness and calibration of Respiratory Care equipment.
9. Maintain an ethical and effective relationship with the health care team.
10. Perform essential elements of patient educations.
11. Demonstrate an awareness of organizational and management principles as related to Respiratory Care.
12. Perform and act on the results of advanced patient assessment techniques.
13. Assist the physician in special procedures of cardiopulmonary care.
14. Demonstrate skills and attitudes needed to maintain professional and technical competence.
15. Demonstrate the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and apply problem solving skills in the practice of Respiratory Care.
16. Recognize the impact of decisive ideas and events in human heritage.
17. Develop and perform basic search strategies and access information in a variety of formats, print and non-print
18. Analyze, summarize, and interpret a variety of reading materials.
19. Think critically and make connections in learning across the disciplines.
20. Elaborate upon knowledge to create new thoughts, processes and/or products.
21. Demonstrate an awareness of ethical considerations in making value choices.

Maysville Community & Technical College, Ashland Community and Technical College and Morehead State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate Degree.

Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Maysville  Community and College. Note: The Commission is to be contacted only if there is evidence that appears to support an institution's significant non-compliance with a requirement or standard.

Northeast Kentucky Consortium Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) (www.coarc.com).

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care 264 Precision Blvd., Telford, TN 37690 - (817) 283-2835

The Northeast Kentucky Consortium Respiratory Care program, program number 200461, Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care, 400 Rocky Adkins Drive, Morehead Kentucky is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com)

Enrollment in the Respiratory Care Program may be limited because of available facilities within the community and the college.

Each applicant must submit the following credentials in order to be considered for admission by the committee as well as attend a pre-admission conference:

1. Application for admission according to established KCTCS and college guidelines; can we add a link to the MCTC application here

2. Letter of intent to the Program Director;

3. Official transcripts of previous postsecondary education; and

4. Submission of documentation indicating that minimum admission requirements have been met to enter BIO 137, MT 110, and ENG 101 or documentation of successful completion of these courses.

 

Should it become necessary to limit enrollment in the Respiratory Care Program, the System Guidelines will be followed and preference may be given to:

1. who have completed 12 or more credit hours of college work with a GPA of 2.5 or better;

2. and students who have completed each biological science requirements with a grade of B or above.

 

Re-admission

Continuous enrollment (semesters) in the program and a grade of “C” or better are necessary for successful completion of the Respiratory Care program. A student who withdraws from or earns lower than a grade of “C” in a Respiratory Care course will be dropped from the Respiratory Care Program.

1. Application for readmission should be made by the program deadline established at each college.

2. Readmission to the Respiratory Care Program will be dependent upon available resources.

3. In order to be considered for readmission by the Respiratory Care Admissions Committee the applicant must:

a. submit a written request to the program director presenting evidence to justify readmission; and

b. meet current admissions guidelines.

4. If more than two (2) years have elapsed since initial enrollment in the program, the applicant must successfully complete available comprehensive Respiratory Care examinations or repeat the course(s).

5. If one (1) year or more has elapsed since her/his last formal clinical practice, a student must successfully demonstrate competency, or enroll in the appropriate Respiratory Care clinical component(s).

6. A student may be readmitted to the Respiratory Care program no more than two (2) times.

 

Advanced Placement Policy for Currently Practicing CRTs

Respiratory Care: National Board For Respiratory Care (NBRC) Examination

A student who has passed the NBRC entry-level examination will be awarded thirty-seven to thirty-nine (37 – 39) semester hours of credits in the Respiratory Care Program after completion of at least 15 credit hours of the general education courses in the approved curriculum. The student must also provide evidence of successful completion of the American Heart Association Basic Life Support course for health care providers. Credit will be awarded for the following courses in the Respiratory Care Program:

RCP 110 Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology (3 hr) RCP 120 Theory and Principles of Respiratory Care (4 hr) RCP 125 Basic Cardiopulmonary Evaluation (4 hr) RCP 135 Respiratory Pharmacology (1 hr) RCP 150 Clinical Practice I (2 hr) RCP 175 Clinical Practice II (3 hr) RCP 180 Ventilatory Support (3 hr) RCP 190 Advanced Ventilatory Support (2 hr) RCP 200 Clinical Practice III (3 hr) RCP 210 Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology (3 hr) RCP 212 Neonatal / Pediatric Respiratory Care (3 hr) RCP 225 Clinical Practice IV (3 hr) RCP 228 Preventive and Long Term Respiratory Care (2 hr) *RCP 204 Special Procedures I (3 hr)

*Credit for RCP 204 will be awarded to the Certified Respiratory Therapist who additionally provides documentation of training/certification for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Procedures (NRP).

Note: Students seeking the Associate in Applied Science from the Respiratory Care Program must complete an individualized orientation program to assist in the transition to the Respiratory Care Program.

You must complete a graduation packet at the start of the term in which you will graduate. Graduation packets can be picked up at the admissions office. You must meet with your academic advisor to complete the packet and confirm that you have met all degree requirements. Return the completed graduation packet to the Dean of Student Affairs by the date on the packet

(mid-March for Spring term graduation, mid-May for Summer term graduation, and mid-October for Fall term graduation).

All courses specifically state the required objectives, goals, and outcomes of each course, which will lead to all terminal objectives being met and the Program’s mission accomplished.

Program Graduation Requirements

· Successful completion of all clinical and program competencies.

· Successful completion of all RCP coursework with a minimum of “C” in each course.

· Successful completion of all required general education course work.

· Successful completion of a NBRC TMC SAE.

· Attendance of an exam preparation seminar.

Marlene Vice BA - RRT Program Director

Kayla Robinson - Respiratory Therapy Coordinator

Steven Koenig, MD - Medical Director

To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive(knowledge), psychomotor(skills), and effective(behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).

Students who are enrolled in an accredited Respiratory Care program may be employed as a student Respiratory Care practitioner (RCP). The Limited Mandatory Certificate issued by the Kentucky Board for Respiratory Care

(KBRC) governs the duties of the student RCP. The Limited Certificate must be applied for before beginning employment.

The following are requirements of the program:

· The student must not be on probation for any reason at any time during the time of employment.

· The student must maintain a “C” average in each course and clinical performance must be evaluated as satisfactory.

· The student must complete specific competencies to be eligible. Go to the KBRC website for more information.

· The student must maintain regular attendance.

· If the student is too ill to attend scheduled clinics or didactic sessions, then the student is considered too ill to work as a student RCP. The student must attend clinical or class for the full day. Should the student call in for clinics or class, and work as a student RCP the same day, it is considered as a violation of program policy. The employer will be contacted and informed.

· Employment time is not substituted for clinical experience.

· Clinical performance evaluations may not be completed during the time the student is employed.

Delineation between Clinical Time and Clinical Site Employment

While enrolled in and attending the Respiratory Care program many students are employed at various clinical sites. There must remain a clear distinction between the student and employee roles; and to that end:

· Students must not be utilized at facilities to substitute for clinical, instruction, or administrative staff.

· Students must not complete clinical coursework while working in an employee status at any clinical site.

· Students may not receive/accept remuneration in exchange for work performed at or during their clinical education, course work, and experiences.

· Students may not use patient information gained during employment to complete clinical coursework.

Standard: Critical Thinking Skills sufficient to make clinical judgment.

Issue: Critical Thinking

Example of Required Activities

Assess patients’ physical and psychosocial needs in a variety of clinical settings by utilizing interpretation of written, verbal and sensory observations to determine appropriate therapies for patient care.

Standard: Problem solving skills appropriate to adjust therapies in response to patient needs.

Issue: Problem Solving

Example of Required Activities

Adjust therapeutic interventions to meet the needs of patients in a variety of settings

Standard: Interpersonal skills sufficient to allow appropriate interaction with individuals and groups from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Issue: Interpersonal Relationships

Example of Required Activities

Interacting with patients, families, co-workers and others to create and maintain professional relationships.

Standard: Written and verbal communication that is appropriate to create clear and concise dialogue in a clinical setting.

Issue: Communication

Example of Required Activities

Communicate effectively with patients, physicians, families and other staff members to assure appropriate patient care.

Standard: Physical abilities appropriate to maneuver in small spaces while maneuvering equipment.

Issue: Mobility

Example of Required Activities

Move safely in a patients’ room. Safely maneuver equipment and apply equipment to patients in a variety of situations often in confined spaces. Perform CPR including chest compressions and intubation.

Standard: Gross and fine motor skills appropriate to perform patient care procedures to national standards which include safety and efficiency.

Issue: Motor Skills

Example of Required Activities

Safely care for patients by manipulating machine controls and equipment. Occasionally crouching, squatting or bending to obtain/evaluate equipment and patients: assist patients from lying to sitting and or standing positions; hand eye coordination sufficient to perform an arterial blood gas puncture and suctioning.

Standard: Appropriate physical strength and endurance to be able to access patient as well as perform therapies on patients for extended periods of time.

Issue: Strength and Endurance

Example of Required Activities

Transporting patients and equipment within a facility; standing or being mobile in clinical settings for 6 hours or more; strength to perform intubation and assist in moving of patients in beds on stretchers and wheelchairs. Constant standing walking and lifting of up to 20 pounds.

Standard: Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health care needs of patients.

Issue: Hearing

Example of Required Activities

Hear monitor alarms, equipment audible alarms, voices with background noise and through protective equipment, calls for help.

Standard: Tactile ability appropriate for assessment of physical health conditions.

Issue: Tactile

Example of Required Activities

Be able to palpate patient pulses. Perform didactic and therapeutic percussion and physical assessment of the chest.

Standard: Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations and maintain a professional and positive interactions with others.

Issue: Temperament

Example of Required Activities

Perform procedures on patients who are in pain due to a variety of reasons. Maintain a sense of professional behavior when under stress.

Books -- $1,500.00 Scrubs (2 sets) Monogramed & Lab coat -- $100.00 Shoes (1) Pair -- $70.00 ID Badge -- $5.00 Stethoscope -- $100.00 Liability Insurance -- $44.00 NBRC Application Fee -- (TMC Exam $190/Clinical Simulation Exam $200) -- $390.00 Watch with Second Hand -- $30.00 Cap, Gown, Diploma Cover for Graduation -- $40.00 Vaccinations --Variable

Attendance of Examination Preparation Seminar -- $425.00 School Pin -- $10.00 Online CRT/RRT Preparation Course -- $90.00 Calculator -- $10.00

Tuition (74 Hrs. @ $174 & including liability insurance)- $12,180.00

NBRC TMC SAE X 2/ CSE SAE -- $170.00 AARC Membership -- $50.00

NRP Exam -- $35.00 Optional ACS/PALS Certification Cards -- $16.00

Estimated Total Cost -- $15,315.00