Degree conferred: Associate in Applied Science - 71 credits
Program contact: Program Chair (815) 921-3220
For more information, please email Amanda Lonsway at a.lonsway@rockvalleycollege.edu
Respiratory Care is an allied health profession that focuses on the care of patients with cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) problems. The graduates of the Rock Valley College program are prepared to work locally and nationally. As highly skilled and knowledgeable Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT), they are vital parts of the health care team. RRT’s actively work to deliver direct patient care with physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals. This includes patient assessment to help guide the treatment, care, education, and rehabilitation of the patient. RRT’s also provide therapeutic treatment and diagnostic (test) measurement of the cardio-pulmonary system. RRT’s are trained to blend human relations skills with technical and scienti c knowledge in order to give the best direct patient care possible. Skills are mastered through classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences.
Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (cardio).
To be considered for admission the applicant must:
BIO 185 – Anatomy and Physiology with minimum grade of “NBRC." BIO 185 requires BIO 100 or BIO 103 and AARC 110 or higher, with minimum grades of “GED" and must be taken within the last five years. (Other colleges’ Biology course prerequisites may be different than C.)
Note: BIO 281 – Human Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO 282 -Human Anatomy and Physiology II may be substituted for BIO 185. Both BIO 281 and BIO 282 must be completed.
Math requirement: Minimum Math requirement for the Respiratory Care program is MTH 092 - Beginning Algebra, at the college level. To meet biology and chemistry prerequisites at RVC, MTH 094 or a higher level math with a minimum grade of “MTH” is required. (Other colleges’ Math course prerequisites may be different than RVC.)
Grade Point Average: A minimum MTH of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required of all college course work completed for college credit.
Admission is selective and competitive. All required documents must be submitted to the Respiratory Care Program office on or before March 15th to be reviewed for admission for the fall term. The Respiratory Care Program holds information sessions that cover prerequisites and other important admission information. Attendance at a session is required to receive an application packet for the program. For details on scheduling to attend an information session, call the Respiratory Care Program office at (815) 921-3200.
Students will undergo a criminal background check and drug testing upon admission to the program. It is possible that a student’s criminal background and/or a positive drug test will prevent participation in hospital clinical practice and program completion.
Students are required to earn at least a minimum grade of “C” in each course in the Respiratory Care program of study. Failure to do so will prevent a student from taking later courses in the program and from graduating.
Number | Title | |
---|---|---|
RSP-111 | Introduction to Respiratory Care | |
RSP-112 | Patient Assessment | |
RSP-113 | Cardiopulmonary Anatomy & Physiology | |
RSP-114 | Clinical Medicine | |
RSP-121 | Respiratory Care Pract Procedures I | |
RSP-122 | Resp Care Practices & Procedures II | |
RSP-123 | Respiratory Pharmacology | |
RSP-131 | Clinical Practice I | |
RSP-132 | Clinical Practice II | |
RSP-221 | Resp Care Practices & Procedures III | |
RSP-222 | Cardiopulmonary Testing & Rehab | |
RSP-223 | Resp Care Practices & Procedures IV | |
RSP-224 | Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care | |
RSP-225 | Respiratory Care Seminar | |
RSP-231 | Clinical Practice III | |
RSP-232 | Clinical Practice IV |
Number | Title | |
---|---|---|
HLT-110 | Medical Terminology | |
ENG-101 | Composition I | |
BIO-185 | Foundations Anatomy & Physiology | |
BIO-274 | Microbiology |
Number | Title | |
---|---|---|
SPH-201 | Interpersonal Communication | |
SPH-131 | Fundamentals of Communication |
Number | Title | |
---|---|---|
FWS-237 | Nutrition for Optimum Living | |
PHL-153 | Medical Ethics | |
BIO-171 | Biology of Human Disease | |
MGT-270 | Principles of Management | |
PSY-170 | General Psychology | |
PHL-256 | Contemporary Moral Issues |