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Respiratory Care Technology

Respiratory therapists are members of a team of health care professionals working in a wide variety of clinical settings to evaluate, treat, and manage patients of all ages with respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders. As members of this team, respiratory therapists should exemplify the standards and ethics expected of all health professionals. The scope of practice for respiratory therapy includes, but is not limited to:

  • Acquiring and evaluating clinical data
  • Assessing the cardiopulmonary status of patients
  • Performing and assisting in the performance of prescribed diagnostic studies such as: obtaining blood samples, blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, and polysomnography.
  • Evaluating data to assess the appropriateness of prescribed respiratory care.
  • Establishing therapeutic goals for patients with cardiopulmonary disease.
  • Participating in the development and modification of respiratory care plans.
  • Case management of patients with cardiopulmonary and related diseases.
  • Initiating prescribed respiratory care treatments, evaluating and monitoring patient responses to such therapy and modifying the prescribed therapy to achieve the desired therapeutic objectives.
  • Initiating and conducting prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation.
  • Providing patient, family, and community education.
  • Promoting cardiopulmonary wellness, disease prevention, and disease management.
  • Participating in life support activities as required and promoting evidence-based medicine, research, and clinical practice guidelines.

Any individual considering the field of Respiratory Care should consider the following technical standards:

  • Push and pull a wheelchair with a patient seated in a wheelchair
  • Lean over to lock the wheelchair and lift the footrests.
  • Lift patients' feet off footrests, if necessary.
  • Push and pull stretchers with the patient resting on a stretcher, and lock and unlock stretchers for patient transfer.
  • Use a draw sheet to transfer the patient from the stretcher bed.
  • Push mobile equipment; maneuver around patient beds and through hallways in various locations in the hospital.
  • Verbally instruct the patient in a clear, concise, easily understandable manner. Visually assess patients' condition.
  • Hear patient's questions and requests and respond quickly. Interact appropriately with patients, co-workers, visitors, and hospital staff.
  • Read and comprehend written communications (i.e. charts, diagrams, etc.)
  • Provide written communication to medical and technical staff.
  • Demonstrate manual dexterity in handling of items such as medication vials and droppers, syringes and needles, and sterile items.
  • Ability to ascend and descend stairway in case of fire or absence of elevator.
  • Be able to deliver effective chest compressions during a resuscitation effort.

Welcome to Northeast! We appreciate your interest in our program. We understand that it can be overwhelming if you are new to the college environment; even if you are currently enrolled or have been here before, it can still be overwhelming. We want to make your experience as positive as possible, so if you have any questions after reading through this, please feel free to contact us.

Suggested Path of Study



Admission Requirements

Respiratory Care Technology Program Applications are due on or before May 1 to be considered for FALL admission.

  • Respiratory Care Technology Information Packet
  • APPLY HERE

There are several factors you need to consider before entering the program:

The clinical phase of the Respiratory Care Program is the heart of the student's educational experiences. Under the supervision of the clinical instructor, the student has the opportunity to learn firsthand the internal operation of his or her particular field of study. The student will, furthermore, be able to apply many of the skills of and concepts learned in the classroom to the clinical situation. The combination of theoretical knowledge obtained in the classroom environment will enable the student to obtain the well-rounded background so urgently needed in our contemporary society.

  1. It is necessary that you have transportation to the assigned hospitals. Clinical rotations may include 12-hour, 3 p.m.-11 p.m. shifts or other non-traditional hours. Clinical experiences are provided in the hospitals below. Baptist Memorial Hospital – Booneville, MS Baptist Memorial Hospital – New Albany, MS Baptist Memorial Hospital – Oxford, MS Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital – Florence, AL Helen Keller Hospital Sheffield, AL Jackson-Madison County General Hospital Jackson, TN Magnolia Hospital – Corinth, MS North Mississippi Medical Center Iuka, MS & Tupelo, MS Tippah County Hospital Ripley, MS
  2. Due to the complexity of the didactic phases of this course, you may have from 3-5 hours of homework nightly. It is important that you commit yourself to studying prior to entering the program.
  3. Students enrolled in this program will be strongly urged not to work more than twenty (20) hours a week.
  4. No unexcused absences will be accepted for clinical and classroom work.
  5. It is the intent of this program to train committed individuals to become caring, competent technicians. Good attendance is a must to accomplish this goal.

Entrance to the Respiratory Care Technology Program is by way of an Admissions Committee. All applicants are scored using a point system based upon objective data including composite ACT, overall GPA, general course completed at NEMCC or transferred, and any medical experience pertinent to the field of Respiratory Care. The committee has the responsibility to screen all qualified applicants for the program who have submitted the required records and credentials prior to the published deadline. Acting upon the recommendation of the Admissions Committee, Northeast Mississippi Community College notifies each applicant of the selection or rejection. The standards for admission to the program in respiratory care technology are established by the program director, clinical director, and advisory committee with the approval of the college administration.

The following are the standards for admission to the program:

  1. Completed application to Northeast.
  2. Completed separate application to the Respiratory Care Program. (Deadline is usually May 1st.)
  3. High school transcript or GED equivalency.
  4. ACT score of 17 on the enhanced ACT.
  5. Students who have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours or credit with a 2.0 or higher grade point average will be considered if the ACT score is less than 17.
  6. Prerequisites: Anatomy and Physiology I and II (BIO 2514 and BIO 2524), Intermediate Algebra (MAT 1233) or College Algebra (MAT 1313)
  7. Transcripts from all undergraduate institutions.
  8. Interview to be scheduled with the program director and clinical director of respiratory care.
  9. No disqualifying events from Criminal Background Check (Fingerprinting)
  10. Health examination completed by a physician or nurse practitioner (This is required after admission to the program is granted).

Each applicant must meet all of the above criteria and is rated using a rating scale. Admission to the program will be finalized by an admission committee. Once accepted into the program, the student must earn a grade of C or better in each respiratory care course and related studies in order to progress in the program.

Accreditation

The Respiratory Care Technology program (#200416) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

“CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes-based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.”

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
Phone: 817-283-2835
Fax: 817-354-8519
http://www.coarc.com

Program Outcomes

The Respiratory Care Technology program prepares individuals to become respiratory therapists. Respiratory therapists, as members of a team of healthcare professionals, work to evaluate, treat, and manage patients of all ages with respiratory, cardiac, and other systemic illnesses. Respiratory therapists are responsible for airway management and the setup and monitoring of life support systems. They provide treatment for heart and lung disorders by administering treatments, oxygen, drugs, and other therapeutic modalities.

The goal is to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs). The graduate will be well prepared to become a successful and productive part of the workforce of the community.

In addition to performing respiratory care procedures, respiratory therapists are involved in clinical decision-making (such as patient evaluation, treatment selection, and assessment of treatment efficacy) and patient education. The scope of practice for respiratory care includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Acquiring and evaluating clinical data
  • Assessing the cardiopulmonary status of patients
  • Performing and assisting in the performance of prescribed diagnostic studies such as drawing blood samples, performing blood gas analysis, and pulmonary function testing
  • Utilizing data to assess the appropriateness of prescribed respiratory care
  • Establishing therapeutic goals for patients with cardiopulmonary disease
  • Participating in the development and modification of respiratory care plans
  • Case management of patients with cardiopulmonary and related diseases
  • Initiating ordered respiratory care, evaluating and monitoring patients' responses to such care, modifying the prescribed respiratory therapy and cardiopulmonary procedures, and life support endeavors to achieve desired therapeutic objectives
  • Initiating and conducting prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Providing patient, family, and community education
  • Promoting cardiopulmonary wellness, disease prevention, and disease management
  • Participating in life support activities as required
  • Promoting evidence-based medicine, research, and clinical practice guidelines
  • Promoting interprofessional skills

Respiratory therapists carry out these duties in a wide variety of clinical settings and are expected to act in a professional manner and conform to the standards and ethics of all healthcare professionals. Professional standards integrated into this curriculum include the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) and standards for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

Graduates of the Respiratory Care Technology program are eligible to sit for the NBRC Board Exams

Additional Resources

Student Handbook

The student handbook provides valuable information to current and prospective students. Program goals, academic and clinical policies, course information, and information on student activities are provided in one convenient location.

Estimated Cost of attendance