Program Detail
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Program Mission/Overview:
The Respiratory Therapy curriculum prepares individuals to become Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT). Through academic studies, laboratory practice, and a wide variety of clinical experiences, the student will learn to perform medical diagnostic testing, patient assessment, therapeutic mechanical ventilation, and the clinical management of patients with heart and lung diseases. Students will provide respiratory therapy in patients’ homes, pulmonary rehabilitation centers, subacute and long term care facilities, and critical care/trauma units of major medical centers. Through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), graduates of this curriculum will be eligible to sit for the entry-level examination-Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRT). Upon successful completion of the CRT exam, graduates will then become eligible to sit for the advanced - practitioner examination which will lead to the RRT credential.
Program Outcomes
The outcomes of the program are:
In any patient care setting, the graduate respiratory therapist will be able to:
- Review existing clinical data, collect additional clinical data and recommend obtaining additional pertinent data.
- Evaluate all data to determine the appropriateness of the prescribed respiratory care plan, and participate in the development of the respiratory care plan.
- Perform diagnostic procedures, interpret results, determine pathophysiological state, and perform continuous quality improvement.
- Select, assemble, and check equipment for proper function, operation, and cleanliness.
- Maintain patient records and communicate relevant patient information to other members of the health care team.
- Conduct therapeutic procedures to maintain an airway, assure ventilation, remove bronchopulmonary secretions, and achieve tissue oxygenation.
- Make necessary modifications in therapeutic procedures and recommend respiratory care techniques in an emergency setting.
- Initiate, conduct, and/or modify respiratory care techniques in an emergency setting.
- Demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations.
- Apply basic scientific principles in learning new techniques and procedures.
- Recognize and act upon individual needs for continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.
- Assist the physician with special procedures.
- Apply Respiratory Care Protocols appropriately in the clinical settings.
- Perform community service education.
Program Accreditation
Forsyth Tech’s Respiratory Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs ( www.caahep.org ) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Professional Links
• American Association for Respiratory Care ( AARC ) www.aarc.org
• North Carolina Society for Respiratory Care ( NCSRC ) www.ncsrc.org
• North Carolina Respiratory Care Board ( NCRCB – State License Issues)
www.ncrcb.org
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs ( CAAHEP )
www.caahep.org
• Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care ( CoARC ) www.coarc.com
• National Board for Respiratory Care ( NBRC ) www.nbrc.org