Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care (BSRC) program will prepare students to be leaders in respiratory care careers. It is specifically designed for those who wish to pursue a career dedicated to the improvement of respiratory health and provide patient care in areas such as hospitals, physician offices, long-term care facilities, and home health. Upon completion, students will continue to be able to show the development of clinical and leadership skills through experience which allows for advanced opportunities in management and education within the respiratory care profession. The length of the program is four years with the first two years being general education classes and the last two years involving the completion of all respiratory classes.

Goals of the Respiratory Care Program

1. To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
2. To prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content with objectives related to the acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research and advanced clinical practice (which may include an area of clinical specialization).

Additional Program Goals/Student Outcomes:
Upon completion of the respiratory care program, graduates will be able to:

1. Collaborate effectively with other health care professionals to provide direction and input with decisions related to the plan of respiratory care services and resources for clients.
2. Demonstrate the ability to recall, apply, and analyze information required of advanced-level respiratory therapists.
3. Utilize effective and professional communication with clients from diverse backgrounds, in addition to peers and other health care professionals.
4. Engage in critical thinking and problem solving through evidence-based practice in multiple health care settings.

Admission for Respiratory Care Program

Initial admission is based on requirements for admission to the University; however, admission to the University does not assure admission to the program in respiratory care. Requirements for admission to respiratory care courses are:

• Submit a formal application to the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions (ACONHP).
• Possess a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) or higher in required BSRC courses, including a “C” or higher in all required prerequisite courses.
• Eligibility Letter: Students previously enrolled in another respiratory care program must provide a letter of eligibility to return to the program without stipulation by the dean or director. If ineligible to return to the program, student is ineligible to apply to the ACONHP.
  • Students enrolled previously in healthcare related programs (other than respiratory), must talk with their advisor.  An eligibility letter may be required.
• Students must be eligible to participate in rotations in all clinical facilities to be eligible for admission to the program.
• Complete a criminal background check and have negative drug screening as specified on the application for admission.
• Fall Admissions: for Fall admission, the application opens March 1 and is due by July 1.

Progression/Retention

Retention in the program is based on continued satisfaction of health requirements, certification, liability requirements, and appropriate academic progress with a grade of C or higher in each respiratory care course.

• Appropriate academic progress with a grade of C (75) or higher in each professional respiratory care course.
• Students must be eligible to participate in rotations in all clinical facilities to be eligible for admission/retention in the program.
• Satisfactory completion of respiratory care courses done in sequence. When a student receives a grade of less than C (75), the student may not progress to any course until the failed course is retaken and requirements are met.
• A student who has failed a respiratory care course may repeat the failed course only once. In the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions, no student will be permitted to use the Repeat/Recompute Policy or the Second Chance Provision for any respiratory care course (RC designation). A student in the respiratory care program can receive no more than one course failure throughout the respiratory care program. After two course failures, the student will be dismissed from the program.
• There are reasons for which a student might fail clinical and these include critical incidents found in the Disciplinary Policies of the current Respiratory Care Student Handbook. The clinical failure is an “F” for the course no matter when/if the student withdraws. This includes any time within the University’s withdrawal (“W”) period. Should this be a second course failure for the student, the student will be required to withdraw from all respiratory care courses at the time of the second course failure.
• Any student who withdraws from Level I of the program will be required to submit a formal application during a future application period, see the Respiratory Care Student Handbook.
• Once admitted into the ACONHP, a student with a failing average in any respiratory care course may not withdraw from the course to prevent course failure. This includes any time within the University’s withdrawal (W) period. Any student who drops a course with an average of less than 75 will receive a WF in respiratory care courses. A WF for any reason is considered a course failure. Students who are eligible to repeat a failed course will be readmitted to the course on a “space available” basis.
• After a second withdrawal from the same course (without extenuating circumstances), a student will be required to wait one year before retaking the course. Extenuating circumstances are to be determined by faculty on an individual basis.
• Students eligible to return to a respiratory care course after a withdrawal “W” or course failure “D/F” from a required respiratory care (RC) course will be readmitted to the course on a “space available” basis.
• Maintenance of 2.0 GPA throughout the respiratory care program.
• Once the student is “out of sync”, he/she/they must adjust to any curriculum changes occurring at that time.

Dismissal

After two course failures, the student is dismissed from the program. A situation in which the student places the client’s life in danger or shows severe behavioral misconduct toward the client and family, clinical facility staff, faculty or other students will result in immediate Administrative Dismissal of the student from the program. In such cases, the student's transcript will reflect the University's grade system as outlined in the University catalog. Behaviors for which the ACONHP have zero tolerance and result in dismissal from the program are listed in the respiratory care student handbook.

Readmission

The student who is academically unsuccessful in two or more courses in levels one and/or two of the respiratory care program will have the option to reapply to the respiratory care program.

• Student who reapply must meet all admission requirements and complete the application process like a new applicant.  Reapplying does not guarantee admission.
• If admitted, the student will start the program as a level one respiratory care student and repeat all respiratory care courses regardless of grade in previous semesters.
• Complete withdrawal from level one will require the student to complete the application process for consideration in a future semester.
• The option to reapply does not apply to students who are dismissed from the program for conduct-related offenses.
• Once a student is dismissed from the program, they are only eligible to be admitted one additional time.

The student in level three or level four of the respiratory care program who has failed the two respiratory care courses may petition the appropriate Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions Admissions, Readmissions, and Progressions Committee Chairperson for readmission after being dismissed from the program. Students may seek readmission to the ACONHP only one time, after the second course failure. Any readmitted student who earns a grade below C in a respiratory care course will be permanently dismissed from the program. Guidelines for readmission may be found in the Respiratory Care Student Handbook that is specific to the student.

Curriculum Requirements for the BS in Respiratory Care

Suggested Plan of Study for the BS in Respiratory Care