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Respiratory
Care
Overview
The
Bachelor of Science degree in Respiratory Care
prepares practitioners who
evaluate, treat, and care for people with breathing and other
cardio-pulmonary disorders. Respiratory therapists work with all types
of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully
developed to elderly people whose lungs are diseased. Respiratory
therapists provide care to patients with asthma or emphysema as well as
emergency care to patients who are victims of heart attack, stroke,
drowning or shock.
The
Curriculum
The
120-credit program of study consists of two phases of study.
Phase One includes 61 credits in the pre-clinical courses of chemistry,
biology, physics, math
and the Liberal
Studies requirements
completed while studying at the main
IUP campus.
Phase Two includes 59 clinical credits completed at the Western
Pennsylvania Hospital (WPH) School of Respiratory
Care, Pittsburgh, PA.
Students
are encouraged to earn a GPA of at least 2.25 in math and science courses
and have at least a 2.0 overall GPA to secure a seat at the Western
Pennsylvania Hospital School of Respiratory Care. IUP cannot guarantee admission to the
clinical program.
Graduates
of the respiratory care program are:
qualified to take examinations for certification (CRT) and registration (RRT)
in respiratory care
prepared for graduate degrees that may lead to careers in administration,
education, and other health care fields
A special
curriculum is available for those who already are certified in respiratory
care (CRT) and interested in earning a bachelor's degree.
Go to FAQ for more information about the CRT
track.
The
Clinical Sites
Students gain clinical experiences at hospitals,
long-term care facilities, and home health care agencies. In
addition to
Western
Pennsylvania Hospital, students have
clinical experience at several Pittsburgh hospitals of superior quality
such as Allegheny General
Hospital, Children’s Hospital of
Pittsburgh, and
also
WPH
Forbes Regional Campus.
Special
Requirements
Before starting clinical, students will need a complete physical
examination, immunizations and screenings as identified by West Penn
Hospital. During the clinical years students must
maintain CPR certification, carry professional liability insurance,
purchase a stethoscope and supplies, and wear uniforms/lab coats. While at
the clinical site, students pay a yearly clinical resource fee. Students
are expected to complete a medical terminology
programmed instruction prior to the clinical year. A criminal background
check and child abuse history check are mandatory. Special
requirements are subject to change.
Respiratory Care Student Handbook
Specific
information on IUP's Respiratory Care Program can be found at
RESP Student
Information Handbook.
Program
Accreditation
The
program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied
Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Committee on
Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
Career
Information
IUP's
respiratory care majors are 100% employed at graduation. Within
three years after graduation, many of the graduates have advanced
to supervisory positions. They are employed in hospitals, extended care
facilities, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, physicians' offices,
and companies providing home care services.
Many facilities offer sign-on
bonuses and scholarships for completion of the last clinical year.
Median annual earnings of respiratory therapists were $43,140 in May
2004.
Frequently
Asked Questions
More
information about the careers in Respiratory Care can be found at the
following website:
American
Association for Respiratory Care www.aarc.org
Bureau of Labor Statistics
www.bls.gov/oco/ocos084.htm
Faculty and Staff - Respiratory Care |
