Associate in Science in Respiratory Care

Florida SouthWestern State College

Graduates of the Respiratory Care Program are prepared to become credentialed as Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) after successful completion of the National Board for Respiratory Care Examinations. 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 ethical and professional standards expected of all health care professionals. Respiratory therapists provide patient care which includes clinical decision-making and patient education. The respiratory care scope of practice includes, but is not limited to the following basic competencies:

• 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, managing life support activities, 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
• Promoting evidence-based practice by using established clinical practice guidelines
• Evaluating published research for its relevance to patient care

The Respiratory Care Program admits students once per year and starts each fall semester. The curriculum includes a combination of classroom, laboratory, and clinical education experiences. General Education and Program Specific coursework may be taken on various campuses but the Respiratory Care core courses are only offered on the Thomas Edison (Lee) Campus. Clinical education occurs at affiliated hospitals throughout Southwest Florida.