What is Respiratory Care?
Respiratory Care is a health care specialty that offers a set of unique challenges in the areas of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, management, and rehabilitation of people with lung problems. This specialty is utilized not only in the hospital setting, but also in home care situations, skilled nursing facilities, medical sales and health education. Respiratory Care provides students with a special opportunity by blending advanced technology with patient care.
Over 100,000 Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs) in the United States work to evaluate treat and care for patients with breathing disorders. Some of these disorders include emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis and even premature infants. A major aspect of Respiratory Care is working side by side with physicians, nurses and other health care team members managing life-supporting equipment and life-threatening situations. These involve patients ranging in age from newborn to senior citizen.
To learn more about the field of Respiratory Care, please visit the American Association of Respiratory Care website.
The Respiratory Care Program at Pitt-Johnstown
The Respiratory Care Program is an AMA approved 20-month Associate Degree program that qualifies graduates to become candidates for the National Registry Examinations. Approximately 30 students are admitted to the first term of the program by the college's Admissions Office. The top 18 students are then chosen from those who have a 2.25 or higher Quality Point Average at the end of the first term of study. All students who complete the program must maintain a minimum QPA of 2.25 in required professional courses.The curriculum has been designed to prepare its graduates for an exciting and fulfilling career in Respiratory Care by providing classroom and up-to-date clinical education as required by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Students who successfully complete this AMA approved, 84 credit program have acquired the many skills necessary to be eligible for the National Registry Exam as administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care.
Our program stresses the importance of a good background in science to provide the basis for the in-depth knowledge necessary to understand the scope of Respiratory Care as it exists now and in the future. Students receive clinical instruction in the application of Respiratory Care to medical, surgical, neonatal, pediatric and post-hospital patients.
This includes rotations through:
- General Respiratory Care floors
- Intensive Care Units
- Regional Intensive Care Nurseries
- EKG/Cardiac Diagnostics
- Quality Control
- Hemodynamics
- Pulmonary Function Laboratories
- Anesthesia Department
- Blood Gas Laboratories
- Sleep Apnea Laboratories
- Emergency Room
- Cardiac Catherization Laboratories
- Respiratory Home Care Companies
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation Departments
A leadership/management rotation has been added to involve students in administrative decision making. In addition, the two credit Advanced Techniques course allows students to further expand their interests in areas such as current trends in Critical Care and Organ Procurement. The team approach to health care involving cooperation with all allied health care providers is promoted. Currently our students rotate through four clinical affiliate hospitals, two homecare companies and one skilled nursing facility to broaden their scope of Respiratory Care. Students are responsible for transportation to and from clinical sites.
Before the Associate Degree
If you are currently a high school student considering a career in Respiratory Care, we recommend your high school curriculum includes science and math courses such as Chemistry, Biology and Algebra.
Respiratory Care Program Curriculum
First Year-Fall Term| Chem for the Health Professions | Chem 0190 | 3 credits |
| Chem for the Health Prof Lab | Chem 0192 | 1 credit |
| Anatomy & Physiology, Lab | Bio 0950 | 4 credits |
| English Composition I | Eng 0005 | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Respiratory Care I | Resca 0020 | 3 credits |
| University Scholarship | CAS 0001 | 1 credit |
| TOTAL | | 15 credits |
First Year-Spring Term
| Anatomy & Physiology / Lab |
Bio 0970 |
4 credits |
| Respiratory Pharmacology |
Resca 1022 |
2 credits |
| Respiratory Physiology |
Resca 1026 |
3 credits |
| Respiratory Pathology |
Resca 1028 |
3 credits |
| Algebra I |
Math 0001 |
3 credits |
| Selected Topics |
Resca 1031 |
3 credits |
| TOTAL |
|
18 CREDITS |
First Year-Summer Term
| Respiratory Techniques II |
Resca 1024 |
4 credits |
| Clinical Practicum I |
Resca 1030 |
7 credits |
| EKG/ABG |
Resca 1031 |
4 credits |
| Elective or Intro to Psych |
---------- |
3 credits |
| TOTAL |
|
18 credits |
Second Year-Fall Term
| Respiratory Care Techniques III |
Resca 1032 |
4 credits |
| Clinical Practicum II |
Resca 1034 |
8 credits |
| Elective or Intro to Psych |
---------- |
3 credits |
| Elective or Intro to Psych |
---------- |
3 credits |
| TOTAL |
|
18 credits |
Second Year-Spring Term
| Clinical Practicum III |
Resca 1038 |
10 credits |
| Advanced Techniques |
Resca 1039 |
2 credits |
| Elective or Intro to Psych |
---------- |
3 credits |
| TOTAL |
|
15 credits |
TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS = 84
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook for Respiratory Therapists is very promising due to an ever increasing aged population, and the profession's continued expansion into various speciality fields. Annual starting salaries range from $38,848 to $46,365, with a median of $42,489. Most employers offer sign-on incentive bonuses and financial assistance for continuing education.
Specialty areas in Respiratory Care include:
- Hospitals (Adult and Neonatal/Pediatrics)
- Research
- Pulmonary Function Testing
- Home Care
- Military
- Education
- Cardiovascular Labs
- Physician's Offices
- Transport Teams
- Subacute Care
- Polysomnography (Sleep Labs)
- Technical Sales/Equipment Companies
Beyond the Associate Degree
Individuals who complete the requirements for their Associate Degree in Respiratory Care may opt to continue at Pitt-Johnstown to complete the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare.