Respiratory Therapy (RPT)

Program only offered at the Shelby-Hoover Campus

David Trott, BS RRT, Program Director
Judy Merritt Building, room 328
(205) 983-5271• dwtrott@jeffersonstate.edu

Danita Miniex, BS RRT, Director of Clinical Education
Judy Merritt Building, room 329 
(205) 983-5310 • dminiex@jeffersonstate.edu

Kimberly Rigg, Advisor
General Studies Building, Room 100
(205) 983-5949 • krigg@jeffersonstate.edu

Jefferson Campus

Kathleen Johnson, Advisor
Allen Library, room 101P
(205) 856-7947 • ktjohnson@jeffersonstate.edu

Respiratory care, also known as respiratory therapy, is a profession that specializes in providing care to patients who have illnesses that affect heart and lung function. Respiratory therapists are uniquely qualified to assist in diagnosing, treating, and managing acute and chronic cardiopulmonary disorders. The Respiratory Therapy Program will prepare individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to assist in developing respiratory care plans, administer respiratory care procedures, supervise personnel and equipment operation, maintain records, and consult with other health care team members. Includes instruction in the applied basic biomedical sciences; anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the respiratory system; clinical medicine; therapeutic procedures; clinical expressions; data collection and record keeping; patient communication; equipment operation and maintenance; personnel supervision; and procedures for special population groups. 

Program Mission 

To prepare students as competent registry-level respiratory therapists through a comprehensive didactic, laboratory and clinical curriculum following the accreditation requirements of CoARC. 

Program Goal 

To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Upon completion of the program, graduates will demonstrate:

1. 1. The ability to comprehend, apply and evaluate information relevant to their role as an advanced respiratory therapist. (Cognitive domain)
2. 2.     The technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill their role as an advanced respiratory therapist. (Psychomotor domain)
3. 3.    Personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations as an advanced respiratory therapist. (Affective domain)

Approvals and Accreditation

The Jefferson State Community College Respiratory Therapy Program, CoARC program number 200634, awarding an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy, at the Jefferson State Shelby-Hoover Campus, holds Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). 

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoArc)
264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN 37690
817-283-2835 (Office)
817-354-8519 (Fax to Plain Paper) 
817-510-1063 (Fax to E-mail) 

Admission Procedures/Requirements

 A limited number of students are admitted to the program because of a specific number of clinical spaces available. Students should contact the pre-nursing and allied health-related advisor in Enrollment Services or the program director well ahead of the date they plan to apply for admission to allow time to meet admission requirements. Applications are available online at www.jeffersonstate.edu/rpt. Students who have completed the requirements and all application procedures will be considered for admission. Students will be ranked according to a point system and all required items must be submitted on or before the application deadline. This includes: 

Jefferson State Admission

1. Applicant must be admitted to Jefferson State, unconditionally, and must be in good standing with the College. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required admission documents are submitted and all admission requirements to the College are met.
2. Submit all official college transcripts from each college previously attended to Jefferson State’s Admissions/Enrollment Services Office.
3. Submit the highest ACT or SAT composite score or proof of bachelor’s degree to Jefferson State’s Admissions/Enrollment Services Office.
4. If applying for Financial Aid, complete the FAFSA application

Respiratory Therapy Admission Requirements

1. Completion of all general education requirements (ENG 101, SPH Elective, MTH 100 or higher, BIO 201, BIO 202, *HUM and Fine Arts Elective, *PSY 200) before starting the program. *Humanities/Fine Arts and PSY 200 may be completed after acceptance into the RPT Program but it is most beneficial to complete these classes prior to starting the program. As indicated in the RPT Admission Ranking Formula Sheet, points may be awarded if courses are successfully completed prior to acceptance into the program. If courses are not completed prior to acceptance into the program, it is highly recommended that students complete them before the beginning of the summer semester.
2. Student must earn a grade of C (70) or better on general education prerequisite required courses (ENG 101, SPH Elective, MTH 100 or higher, BIO 201, BIO 202, Humanities and Fine Arts Elective, PSY 200). Note: BIO 201 and BIO 202 must be within 5 years.
3. Submit ALL official transcripts from ALL colleges attended to Admissions Office by application deadline.
4. Student must possess a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or greater on a 4.0 scale on all courses attempted, including graduate levels within 5 years of application.
5. ACT composite score of 18 or higher and a science score of 18 or higher (National or Residual) or SAT Score of 940 or higher within a 5 year limit. Proof of score must be submitted with the application. Proof of bachelor’s degree can be submitted in place of ACT or SAT score.
6. Not a requirement for admission, however, all students admitted to the program must submit to a drug screening and background check and provide other required documentation (Current CPR Certification, Health/Hospitalization Insurance, Liability Insurance, Immunizations, etc.). Applicants with a history of criminal arrest or convictions should discuss the matter with the program director.
7. Complete the Respiratory Therapy (RPT) Observation Form (Optional).
8. Only those students who have met all the criteria and submitted all required paperwork by the deadline will be considered for admission.
9. Once admitted, student must attend a MANDATORY Orientation.

Transfer Credit of Previous Credit General Education Courses

Students who have transfer credit should request the evaluation of transcripts from other colleges attended by Enrollment Services.

Grading Scale

Letter grades for all RPT courses are assigned according the following system: Students must achieve a 75% “C” or higher in all Respiratory Therapy (RPT) courses.

A: Excellent (90-100) )    
B: Good (80-89
C: Average (75-79)
D: Poor (60-74)
F: Failure (below 60) 
W: Withdrawal
WP: Withdrawal Passing 
I: Incomplete
AU: Audit
RW: Required Withdrawal

Essential Functions 

Respiratory therapists are responsible for assessments, treatments, diagnostic testing, and having critical thinking skills, while multi-tasking, for all patients in a healthcare or homecare setting, especially patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. Students in the respiratory therapy program must be able to adequately function and perform procedures, treatments, and testing within the scope of practice. Essential functions include, but are not limited to the following: 

Communication:

• Students must be able communicate appropriately and efficiently with a diverse population (i.e. faculty, hospital staff, patients, and patients’ family members).
• Convey thoughts in verbal and written form.
• Use and interpret appropriate non-verbal communication.

Mobility:

• Students must have the strength and physical ability to perform adequate patient care.
• Students should be able to maneuver patients, equipment, and other related items without causing personal harm or harm to others.

Tactile:

• Student must be able to properly perform patient assessments, operate equipment safely, and perform procedures at a competent level.

Hearing and Vision:

• Computers/charts, computer standardized tests, paper exams, etc.).
• Hear high and low frequency. Student must possess adequate hearing and vision in order to properly assess patients.
• Participate in all aspects of patient care as it relates to the respiratory care scope of practice.
• Read numbers, letters, and words in fine print or on electronic devices (i.e. hospital sounds, such as telephones, monitor alarms, emergency signals.

Behavioral:

• Students must have sufficient mental and emotional health to work effectively in a fast paced, hospital/clinical environment.
• Student will likely be exposed to high-stressful medical situations that require a certain level of mental and emotional stability.

Request for reasonable accommodations should be directed to:  

Jefferson State Community College
ADA Accommodations Office
Room 305, Fitzgerald Student Center
2601 Carson Road, Birmingham, AL 35215
205-856-6077 

Technical Standards

In order to perform the tasks required of a respiratory therapist, certain physical, reasoning and communication capabilities are required. Students must demonstrate the ability to perform required functions as a routine part of either classroom, laboratory or clinical education. Students should be aware that successful completion of the Respiratory Therapy Program will depend upon the ability to meet the following technical standards. 

Examples of technical skills include: 

A reasonable amount of strength and mobility are required in order to effectively work in a clinical setting for eight (8) to twelve (12) hours per day:

1. Lift, move or push heavy equipment, specifically ventilators, therapy equipment, stretchers and/or wheelchairs with patients in them;
2. Assist in lifting or repositioning patients who may be paralyzed, comatose or otherwise incapacitated,  from patient beds and stretchers or wheelchairs;
3. Provide physical assistance and care for patients in a timely manner in all circumstances;
4. Reach overhead in order to manipulate ventilator arms, monitoring equipment, etc.

Manual dexterity, good motor skills and eye-hand coordination are necessary in order to: 

1. Assemble, operate, and manipulate equipment;
2. Don and doff sterile glove (PPE);
3. Manipulate a syringe and needle to prepare medications;
4. Set up equipment;
5. Perform routine and complex therapies, i.e. SVN, suctioning, manual ventilation;
6. Palpate pulses (arteries) for puncture;
7. Perform airway management;
8. Perform chest compressions during CPR and manually ventilate a patient;

Sensory function in upper limbs is necessary in order to palpate blood vessels for blood sampling. 

The ability to hear faint or muffled sounds is necessary in order to:

1. Assess breath sounds;
2. Respond to patient needs since ventilator alarms may be muffled due to ICU noise;
3. Monitor equipment operation or dysfunction which may be indicated by low intensity sounds;
4. Function when the use of surgical masks is required for protection of the patient or hospital personnel;
5. Respond to pages and emergency calls from the hospital public address system.

Visual acuity (the ability to see fine lines) to:

1. Read patient monitor values and ventilator values in dimly lit surroundings;
2. Read waveform graphic monitors.

The ability to communicate orally and in writing in the English language is a requirement for RTs in order to:

1. Ascertain and record patient histories;
2. Monitor and document patient progress;
3. Provide clear and audible directions when speaking directly to others;
4. Provide accurate information when discussing patient management with physicians and other support staff;
5. Process and communicate information on the patient’s status with accuracy in a timely manner for appropriate interaction with physician, supervisors, and other members of the health care team.

Cognitive and intellectual abilities to:

1. Measure, calculate, and analyze data;   
2. Make proper assessments;
3. Use sound judgment;  
4. Appropriately prioritize therapeutic interventions;  
5. Measure and record patient care outcomes.

Possess acceptable mental/attitudinal standards in order to:

1. Function safely, effectively and calmly under stressful situations;
2. Maintain composure while managing multiple tasks simultaneously;
3. Prioritize multiple tasks;
4. Exhibit social skills necessary to interact effectively with patients, families, supervisors and coworkers of the same or different cultures such as respect, politeness, tact, collaboration, teamwork, discretion;
5. Display attitudes/actions consistent with the ethical standards of the profession.