Student Information Handbook

 

 

 

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

 

 

Department of Nursing and

Allied Health Professions

 

 

Bachelor of Science

in

Respiratory Care

 

 

 

 

July 2007

 

Information for Respiratory Care Students

 

Mission

 

The mission of the Department of Nursing and Allied Health Professions is to define, provide, and advance the education and development of professionals within the fields of nursing, clinical laboratory science, nuclear medicine technology, respiratory care, and gerontology.

 

History

 

Indiana University of Pennsylvania first offered the Bachelor of Science degree program in medical technology in 1968.  In 1973 the respiratory care program, then known as respiratory technology, graduated its first class.  Allied Health was a separate department in the university until 1989 when it merged with Nursing to become the Department of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.  The gerontology certificate program was approved in 1992.  The latest allied health program, nuclear medicine technology, was added to the department in 1994.  The name of the medical technology program was changed to clinical laboratory science in 2003.  The most recent change, approved in 2003, was the addition of a special curriculum track for respiratory therapists who are already certified and interested in completing a bachelor of science degree.

 

Coordinator

 

The allied health and gerontology programs are coordinated by a faculty member in the Department of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.  The coordinator serves as the academic advisor for all students in the programs and liaison with faculty, affiliating schools, and agencies.

 

IUP Allied Health Club

 

This officially recognized student organization provides an opportunity for IUP allied health students and those interested in allied health to engage in pre-professional activities and peer support and to promote the allied health majors.  There is no membership fee and applications are available from the allied health coordinator and club officers.

 

Communication and Contacts

 

All allied health students are expected to use their IUP email address.  Important and helpful information is sent to students from the coordinator, secretary, registrar and other campus offices.  Assistance with the use of the IUP email system is available at www.iup.edu/ats/sts/email.

 

Mrs. Jodell Kuzneski                                                    Mrs. Elaine Pedaci

Coordinator Allied Health Professions                           Secretary, Allied Health Professions

243 Johnson Hall, 1010 Oakland Avenue                     244 Johnson Hall, 1010 Oakland Avenue

Indiana University of Pennsylvania                                 Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana, PA 15705                                                       Indiana, PA 15705

Telephone: 724-357-7647                                            Telephone: 724-357-7647

Fax: 724-357-3267                                                      Fax: 724-357-3267

Email: Kuzneski@iup.edu                                             Email:  Pedaci@iup.edu

 

Dr. Michele Gerwick                                                    Mrs. Deborah McCutcheon

Chair, Nursing/Allied Health Professions                       Secretary, Undergraduate Nursing

211 Johnson Hall, 1010 Oakland Avenue                     210 Johnson Hall, 1010 Oakland Avenue

Indiana University of Pennsylvania                                 Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana, PA  15705-1063                                             Indiana, PA  15705-1063

Telephone: 724-357-2557                                            Telephone: 724-357-2557

Fax: 724-357-3267                                                      Fax: 724-357-3267

Email: mgerwick@iup.edu                                             Email: mccutch@iup.edu

 

Dr. Carleen Zoni, Dean                                               Dr. Jacqueline Beck, Director

College of Health and Human Services                        Office of Academic Planning & Assessment

216 Zink Hall                                                              College of Health and Human Services

Indiana University of Pennsylvania                               222 Zink Hall

Indiana, PA  15705-1063                                           Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Telephone: 724-357-2555                                          Indiana, PA 15705-1063

Fax: 724-357-6205                                                    Telephone: 724-357-2560

Email: cczoni@iup.edu                                                Fax: 724-357-6205

                                                                                  Email: jbeck@iup.edu

William Malley, Program Director

School of Respiratory Care

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital

720 Gross Street

Pittsburgh, PA  15224

Telephone: 412-578-7000

Email: bmalley@wpahs.org

 

 

Respiratory Care

 

The Bachelor of Science degree program is designed to prepare the graduates to be

• Competent registered respiratory therapy practitioners
• Leaders in health care and particularly the respiratory care profession

 

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 care professionals.  In addition to performing respiratory care procedures, respiratory therapists are involved in clinical decision-making and patient education.  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
• Promoting evidence-based medicine, research and clinical practice guidelines

 

The above statements about the scope of practice are cited in the Standards and Guidelines for the Profession of Respiratory Care (2003) published by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

 

Upon successful completion of all degree requirements, graduates are eligible for two credentials: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

 

Curriculum

 

The respiratory care curriculum is divided into pre-clinical and clinical study.  Students typically finish the first two academic years of study on the IUP main campus.  To complete the program students study for the remaining two academic years at the School of Respiratory Care at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Upon graduation students earn a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in respiratory care from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 

 

The curriculum includes a one-credit elective course, RESP 342 Preceptorship in Respiratory Care.  The course provides students with the opportunity to gain additional clinical experiences in a supervised health care setting.  Students are eligible to register for the preceptorship upon completing the first semester of respiratory care courses and may repeat the course a maximum of five times (5 credits).  Most students receive a salary from the sponsoring health care agency during the preceptorship experience.

 

Track for Certified Respiratory Therapists

 

The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in respiratory care is offered for CRTs who are graduates of an accredited certificate or associate degree respiratory care program.  CRTs are awarded advanced standing and have different requirements than those students who are not certified.  See the back of the curriculum organization page in the student information handbook for more details.

 

Summer Course Work

 

Many students find it helpful to complete one or more courses during the summer months.  IUP offers a number of courses during the summer that are included in the requirements for respiratory care majors.  The summer schedule is typically available for view in early March at www.iup.edu/ursa.

 

Students may also plan to complete courses at other colleges or universities during the summer months and should discuss these plans with the allied health coordinator.  Course equivalency information is found at www.iup.edu/creditevaluation.

 

Upon completion of all off-campus coursework, the student must request (according to the procedures at the host institution) that an official transcript be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions, Credit Evaluation, 117 Sutton Hall, 1011 South Drive, IUP, Indiana, PA  15705.

 

Learning Support Services

 

IUP offers a number of excellent learning support services including peer tutors, supplemental instruction and workshops.  For a complete listing of services offered by the Department of Developmental Studies visit www.iup.edu/devstudies.  The Department of Chemistry, the Department of Mathematics, and the Department of Physics also provide student tutors to help students with homework and assignments.  IUP’s Writing Center (www.wc.iup.edu) is another valuable resource for students.

 

Clinical Sites

 

Western Pennsylvania Hospital

School of Respiratory Care

720 Gross Street

Pittsburgh, PA  15224

412-578-7000

www.wpahs.org

 

During the final two years in the program students study and practice in classroom, laboratory and clinical settings.  While the majority of clinical practice is completed in various areas of The Western Pennsylvania Hospital students also gain clinical experience at Forbes Regional Campus of WPH, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Allegheny General Hospital and several home care agencies.  Faculty, employed by The Western Pennsylvania Hospital and considered adjunct faculty at IUP, are responsible for classroom and clinical instruction during the clinical phase of the program.

 

Academic Requirements for Clinical Placement

 

To be competitive for clinical placement at the School of Respiratory Care students are expected to earn a minimum overall QPA of 2.0 and a minimum QPA of 2.25 in required math and science courses.  Typically no more than thirty students are accepted into each class that begins every fall semester at the School of Respiratory Care.  While at the School, students must maintain a minimum QPA of 2.0 in their respiratory care courses and are expected to earn C or better grades in each course.

 

Additional Requirements for Clinical Placement

 

Once accepted into the clinical phase of the program the director at the School of Respiratory Care provides students with detailed information about additional requirements.  Typically, these requirements include

• CPR certification
• Criminal Record and Child Abuse History clearances
• Professional liability insurance
• Lab equipment
• Health screening including a physical exam, blood work, and immunizations
• Uniforms and lab coats
• Clinical equipment including a stethoscope, scissors, hemostats and goggles

 

Students must also independently complete instruction using a medical terminology book prior to beginning the first respiratory classes.  Health care insurance is strongly recommended.  Costs associated with these items are the student’s responsibility.

 

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

 

During the final two years of study students pay tuition and fees directly to The Western Pennsylvania Hospital and are also required to purchase additional items.  During the semesters students are at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, IUP bills the student each semester for an administrative fee of approximately $75 and a $30 registration fee.

 

Students may apply for financial aid during the clinical phase of study through IUP’s Office of Financial Aid.  Amounts of financial awards will vary depending on several factors.

 

A list of approximate costs/associated additional expenses is provided below. 

These costs are reported for academic year 2006-07 and are expected to increase.  Information in the Student Handbook is updated on line on our website www.iup.edu/rn-alliedhealth.

 

         Per Year                                                                                    

         Program Fee                                                                               $6,840

         Books (Junior year)                                                                     $   450

         Books (Senior year)                                                                    $   210

         WPH Clinical Resource Fee (Junior year)                                    $   350

         WPH Clinical Resource Fee (Senior year)                                   $   600

         American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Dues          $     50

 

         One-time expenses include:

         PSRC Seminar Fee (Senior year)                                               $    50

         Stethoscope and Supplies                                                          $    40

         Lab coats (two)                                                                         $    50

         Scrub uniforms (2 sets)                                                              $    60

         WPH Access Card                                                                    $   10

         WPH Replacement Access Card                                               $    25

        

Timeline for Clinical Placement

 

Students meet regularly with their academic advisor while at IUP.  At these meetings progress toward meeting academic requirements for clinical placement is carefully reviewed and discussed.  The advisor meets with the program director and clinical coordinator from the School of Respiratory Care at the end of each spring semester to make clinical placement decisions.  Students receive written communication from both IUP and the School of Respiratory Care informing them of placement decisions and providing appropriate detail about the additional clinical year requirements.  In some cases, the clinical placement decision is contingent upon successful completion of summer course work.

 

Graduation Application

 

Undergraduate students are required to apply for graduation in their next to final semester of enrollment.  The graduation application process is an online function at IUP’s webpage www.iup.edu/ursa.

Students graduating in May should apply online by November 15^th.

Students graduating in August and December should apply online by April 1^st.