Respiratory Care Information | SKYCTC

    Respiratory Care Information

    Mission Statement

    The mission of the respiratory therapy program is to provide the instruction and resources necessary to enable students to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes which are necessary to become a competent Registered Respiratory Therapist.

    Respiratory Care Program Goals

    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).

    Clinicals

    Clinical courses will involve rotation/assignments to a variety of clinical affiliates and different settings. Early mornings, travel, and some evening hours will be required to meet these requirements.

    Technical Standards

    The respiratory therapist specializes in the application of scientific knowledge and theory to practical clinical problems of respiratory care as outlined in a description of the occupation found in the guidelines and essentials of the accredited educational program for the respiratory therapist. Therefore, in order to be successful in the program, a candidate should possess:

    1. sufficient tactile and visual acuity, such as is needed in the accurate monitoring or life support systems and for the observation necessary for patient assessments;
    2. sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from patients and members of the health care team to assess health needs of people through the use of monitoring devices such as cardiac monitors, stethoscopes, inhalers and fire alarms, etc.;
    3. sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and to implement respiratory therapy skills including the manipulation of equipment to meet health needs;
    4. sufficient communication skills (verbal, non-verbal, and written) to interact with individuals and to communicate their needs promptly and effectively; and
    5. sufficient intellectual and emotional functions to plan and implement respiratory care.

    If you need special accommodations to meet these standards, please contact the Program Director.

    Selective Admission Process

    This program has a selective admission process. Students must first be admitted to the college and complete all required prerequisite courses. After meeting these requirements, students may submit an application to the program for consideration. Admission is competitive and is not guaranteed upon completion of prerequisite coursework.

    Steps to apply for the respiratory therapy program to be completed in this order:

    1. First, apply to SKYCTC.
    2. Request all transcripts be sent to SKYCTC.
    3. Once you have been admitted to SKYCTC, you will receive information on how to connect with an advisor through the Advising and Transfer Center. Your advisor will discuss new student orientation, your intended Allied Health program, prerequisite courses, and the next steps toward applying to your Allied Health program. The prerequisite courses for the respiratory therapy program are BIO 137 and a math course (MAT 150, MAT 146 or MAT 110). Students must earn a grade of C or higher in these courses. For success in the respiratory therapy program, it is recommended that the majority of the general education requirements be completed prior to admission.
    4. Upon registration and/or completion of the pre-requisite courses, meet with a program advisor.
    5. Submit an application to the program. This information will be provided at the advising appointment. Applications are due May 15.
    6. Submit documentation of age. Applicants must be at least 17 years old. This information will be provided at the advising appointment. This information is due May 15.
    7. Complete a letter of intent to the Respiratory Care Program Director prior to May 15.

    Scoring for Applications

    The scoring of applications is based on academic performance (grades) and GPA. Preference is given to applicants with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Selective admission is based on grades earned from the program’s required general education class list. The points for selective admissions are based on the letter grade from each required class with a “C” or higher. Each letter grade earned is equal to a certain number of points, Higher grades earn more points. The Math and BIO classes carry more weighted points than general education classes. The other components of the selective admissions process include GPA, other degrees, and current or previous documented healthcare work experience.

    Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by the last week of May. Students must accept their spot in the program by June 1. Directions will be provided in the acceptance letters. Students who are not accepted into the program will be notified by the last week of May. Students who are accepted into the program must attend a mandatory orientation within the first 2 weeks of June. Students who are accepted must complete a background check, drug screen and physical with labs. Other items required for clinicals are malpractice insurance (offered through SKYCTC) and AHA Healthcare Provider BLS with AED (offered through the Respiratory Therapy program. Information will be provided at the orientation meeting.