Respiratory Therapy
The Associate of Applied Science is a cooperative effort between the College, the School of Allied Health Professions at LSU Health Sciences Center, and area hospital clinical affiliates to prepare graduates as competent Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT). Respiratory Therapy is a program employed with medical direction in the treatment, management, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system.
Respiratory therapists, also known as respiratory care practitioners, provide treatment, evaluation, monitoring and management of patients with breathing disorders or cardiovascular problems.
Care provided by respiratory therapists may include: administration of oxygen, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, management of mechanical ventilators, administering drugs to the lungs, monitoring cardiopulmonary systems and measuring lung function. Respiratory therapists work with numerous types of cutting edge technology to assist their patients. They also understand how to apply high tech devices in the care and treatment of patients, how to assess patients to ensure the treatments are working properly, and how to make the care changes necessary to arrive at the best outcome for the patient.
Respiratory therapists treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people with lung disease. They provide temporary relief to patients with chronic asthma or emphysema, as well as emergency care to patients who are victims of a heart attack, stroke, drowning or shock.
Respiratory therapists work in a wide variety of settings including: hospitals, long term care facilities, medical equipment companies, home health agencies, physician offices and more.
For a more complete description of careers in respiratory therapy, refer to the website of the American Association for Respiratory Care.
The objective of the program is to train competent individuals in respiratory care skills sufficient for the delivery of safe clinical therapy and adequate to meet qualification for the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) certification exam and advance registry exam after the four semesters of clinicals.
Students in the Associate of Applied Science degree program will receive didactic, laboratory practice and clinical training in the therapeutic use of the following: medical gases and devices of administration, environmental control systems, humidification, aerosols, medications, ventilatory support systems, bronchopulmonary hygiene modalities, cardiopulmonary diagnostics, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and airway management. The program consists of 33 hours of didactic prerequisite coursework and four (4) semesters of clinical course work (38 hours). Upon successful completion of this course work, the graduate will receive the Associate of Applied Science degree and be eligible for the NBRC entry and advanced level exam (CRT and RRT).
The Respiratory Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 264 Precision Blvd. Telford, TN 37690, phone 817-283-2835.
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. Click here for Programmatic Outcomes Data.
Click here to view the program curriculum.
The selection process for the RT Clinical Program begins each Spring. Students should be aware of the following requirements and procedures regarding program selection:
- Transfer students must complete all College Admissions Forms and a request for official transcripts to be sent to BPCC prior to official clinical program admission.
- Students must submit a completed RT Clinical Application Packet by the April 15th deadline to include RT Program application as well as Essential Requirements Form.
- Students must also attend a Mandatory Applicant Orientation meeting typically scheduled for late April. The exact date/time for orientation can be obtained by emailing Ms. Michel: lmiche@lsuhsc.edu.
- Pre-RT (qualification) courses must be completed by the end of the Spring semester of the application year. In certain special situations, students are occasionally offered provisional admission when missing up to 3 hours of a non-science/non-math core course. Contact Kelly Brandon, Academic Advisor for more detailed information (kbrandon@bpcc.edu).
- Pre-RT (qualification) courses must be at a GPA of > 2.5 and students must earn a “C” or better in all courses to be eligible for application.
- Interviews are conducted in May each year.
- Clinical class size is determined by clinical site availability and employment statistics.
*All RT Clinical Program applications as well as the ‘Essential Requirements Form’ must be submitted electronically by the annual April 15th deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for the current cohort year.
Potential RT Clinical Program students must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to appear before the Program Selection Committee for an Interview:
- have successfully completed the prerequisite qualification courses for the Associate of Applied Science degree in RT
- be of a minimum age of 18 by the beginning of the first clinical semester
- have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all prerequisite qualification courses with a minimum of a “C” in each qualification course
- electronically submit a program application by April 15th
The Selection Committee is composed of the Program Director, Clinical and Academic Coordinators, faculty, college personnel, and area professionals working in Respiratory Care. Only those students who have completed and submitted the RT Clinical Program application packet by April 15 will be qualified to interview. Selection for entry into the RT Clinical Program is based upon the following:
- Minimum of “C” earned in each prerequisite qualification course.
- Overall GPA of 2.0 and minimum of 2.5 in qualification courses.
- Attendance of the mandatory applicant orientation – The exact date/time for orientation can be obtained by emailing Ms. Michel: lmiche@lsuhsc.edu.
- Post interview assessment by selection committee to include language skills, personal appearance, demeanor, past academic achievements, knowledge of the profession, and job experience, as applicable.
*Students will be notified by email of acceptance or rejection for entry into Summer clinical course work. Clinical class size is determined by clinical site availability and employment statistics.
All students selected for respiratory therapy clinicals must provide all required clinical information (listed earlier in this section) including:
- A completed health status statement form from a physician, laboratory immunization/testing reports for mumps, measles, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, varicella zoster, and Hepatitis B and any others required by the hospital/clinical facility and documentation of laboratory testing for negative drug screening.
- Students must also maintain current health insurance coverage while in the program and submit a signed consent/release for criminal background check.
- Once accepted into clinicals, students will pay a clinical fee in addition to regular tuition and fees during each clinical semester.
- Students must maintain a minimum grade of C (70%) or better in all clinical course work to remain in the program. Any student who fails to maintain a 70% while in clinical programs will be terminated from the program. The student may reapply and re-interview for the next class the following year if he/she wishes to continue to pursue the RT degree. If reaccepted, it will be at the discretion of the program director as to which course(s) must be remediated or audited based on results of the student’s prior performance in the program.
Respiratory Therapy Program Forms
Division of Nursing and Allied Health Form
BPCC Forms
| 3 Year Average (2018 - 2020) | |
|---|---|
| Clinical Enrollment | 18 |
| Credentialing Pass Rate: Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) |
|
| Job Placement | 96.7% |
Accreditation
The Bossier Parish Community College Respiratory Therapy Clinical Program as well as Satellite-site Program – CoARC #200392 and #300025, awarding the Associate of Applied Science degree in Respiratory Therapy, located at 6220 East Texas Street, Bossier City, Louisiana, 71111, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).
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.
According to the most updated 2018 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Median salary = $60,280.
RTs have many responsibilities which include:
- Assessment of patient’s overall respiratory condition – lung and breathing disorders, recommending treatment modalities
- Interviewing patients and performing general chest physical exam to determine indicated therapies and make applicable recommendations
- Consulting with physicians to recommend and/or alter therapies based on patient evaluation
- Acquiring and analyzing blood specimen to determine oxygen levels and other pertinent values
- Managing mechanical ventilators and other devices for patients with respiratory distress and failure
- Responding to emergencies that involve cardiac or respiratory arrest – assisting with “code blue” and rapid response protocol
- Educating patients and family members about lung disease and treatment modalities, as applicable
RTs can work in many environments and institutions to include acute care environments (hospitals, long-term care facilities, intensive care units), outpatient and rehabilitation centers, and sleep diagnostic centers. RTs care for patients with many different cardiorespiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, heart failure, obstructive sleep apnea, and pulmonary fibrosis just to name a few.
Typically, yes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 23 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth in the middle-aged and elderly population will lead to an increased incidence of respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. These respiratory disorders can permanently damage the lungs or diminish lung function. Our most recent 3-year RT Clinical Program graduate job placement rate = 96.7%.
Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy degree; You will also be eligible to take the Therapist Multiple Choice Exam and Clinical Simulations Exam, both issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The passing of both of these exams will allow you to become a credentialed Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Any graduate with credentials as a RT by the NBRC can apply for a license to any of the 50 States.
Once accepted into the RT Clinical Program, the 4 semesters lasts about 14 months.
Obtain a copy of your transcript (official or unofficial) and provide it to either Kelly Brandon (kbrandon@bpcc.edu) or Lindsay Michel (lmichel@bpcc.edu) for review. They will advise you regarding classes you need to apply to the RT program. These transcripts will only be used for the purpose of advising and will not replace the requirement for official transcripts to be sent to BPCC’s Admissions Office. You will also need to complete an application to BPCC, if you are not already a BPCC student, and obtain an application packet to the Respiratory Therapy Program. The completed application packet must be received no later than April 15 of the application year to be considered for the program. Admission into the RT Clinical Program is selective, based primarily upon cumulative and prerequisite GPA and interview scoring.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lindsay Michel
lindsay.michel@lsuhs.edu