Respiratory Care

More than ever, respiratory care providers are in increasing demand. Zane State College is responding to the need by offering a Respiratory Care associate degree through an education consortium with Rhodes State College. This career is ideal for those who have a passion for helping others. Patients range from premature infants with undeveloped lungs to elderly patients who have diseased lungs. They also provide emergency care to patients suffering from heart attacks, drowning, or shock. (bls.org)

Respiratory care practitioners are prepared to administer pulmonary care under the direction of licensed physicians. Respiratory therapists assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of lung and breathing disorders. These tasks include administering medical gases, breathing tests, medications by inhalation and drawing of blood for analysis. Respiratory care practitioners are required to have knowledge of special life-support equipment and methods of monitoring critically-ill patients.

Individuals educated as respiratory therapists must complete a minimum of two years of education. Upon completing the minimum education, graduates are eligible to sit for the national board examinations to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and then a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT, advanced level).

Registered respiratory therapists assume primary clinical responsibility for all respiratory care modalities. Therapists scope of practice includes specific knowledge of cardiopulmonary and renal anatomy, pathology, clinical management, therapeutics and diagnostics. Excellent communication skills are necessary in order to consult with physicians and other members of the health care team. The most important standard in the profession of respiratory care is for practitioners to serve as role models in matters concerning health by abstaining from the use of tobacco products at home, school and work environments.

The Respiratory Care Program is offered in partnership with Rhodes State College. Rhodes State has offered a fully-accredited Respiratory Care Program since 1980. Please click here for the Rhodes State website for full details. 

• Students begin by taking general education courses at Zane State and then begin Respiratory Care courses through Rhodes State during summer semester.
• Students must apply and be accepted by Zane State College AND Rhodes State College. All financial aid will be administered by Rhodes State College; however, students should also list Zane State College on their FAFSA.
• Zane State’s education consortium with Rhodes State allows students to complete their general education and basic classes through Zane State and their technical classes through Rhodes State via remote instruction at Zane State College.
• The Rhodes State Respiratory Care program only accepts students once a year in summer semester.
• Students will need to travel to the Rhodes State campus in Lima for skills lab instruction and hands-on practice approximately once a week. Clinical learning experiences will be scheduled in regional healthcare facilities.
• All students who apply for acceptance into the Respiratory Care Program have their name placed on a qualified list after they meet the program qualifications listed below.

In addition to the general admission requirements for all students, the following specific requirements must be completed before being added to the qualified list:

• Attend a mandatory program specific orientation.
• Have a minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA) for any previous college-level course work at the time of selection and matriculation.
• Complete all required college level math, writing and reading courses and prerequisites with a grade or D or higher, and all college level science requirements and prerequisites with a grade of C or higher; or equivalent placement.

Once a student is admitted into the Rhodes State Respiratory Care program, they must show completion of the following requirements prior to start of first term (summer):

• Complete 16 hours of observation with a respiratory care practitioner in a hospital of the applicant’s choice. Appointments with the hospital are made by the applicant.
• Complete an interview with the Rhodes State College Respiratory Care Program chairperson or director of clinical education.
• Prior to enrollment in the first clinical course, the student must meet these requirements:
• Provide the results of a physical examination including laboratory tests and completion of required immunizations before actual clinical course work can be started. The Rhodes State Respiratory Care program also has technical standards for which all students must be capable. These standards specify skills necessary to participate in learning activities and professional practice. Click to review these standards. https://catalog.rhodesstate.edu/divisions/health_sciences/#technicalstandardstext
• Complete an American Heart Association, BLS, Health Care Provider, CPR course prior to clinical course work. Must be maintained through to graduation.
• Meet the expanding requirements of Rhodes State clinical affiliates. Students will be required to submit to drug screening prior to enrollment in the first Rhodes State clinical course (RES 1410 Clinical Experience I). Positive drug screens will result in dismissal from all clinical courses and consequently from the program. In addition to screening, all students in clinical courses are subject to random and for cause drug screens for the duration of the Respiratory Care program.
• Complete a mandatory criminal background check. Anyone with a prior felony and/ or some misdemeanors are at risk of being dismissed from the program. A positive criminal record may also prevent an individual from obtaining a license to practice Respiratory Care following graduation. Please refer to the Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening paragraph in the Division of Health Sciences section of the current college catalog for details. https://catalog.rhodesstate.edu/divisions/health_sciences/

Major: Respiratory Care
Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Location: On Campus/Remote
Duration: 2 Years
Type: Health
Course of Study: DURS_COS_22_23

Zane State College
Julia Griffin, Student Success Coach
jgriffin@zanestate.edu
740.588.4174

Rhodes State
Pamela Halfhill, MS, Chair
halfhill.p@RhodesState.edu
419.995.8366

Rhodes State College Respiratory Care Program number 200324 is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com): Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), 264 Precision Blvd., Telford, TN 37690, (817) 283-2835

The Rhodes State program has been accredited since its inception in 1980. In 2018 and 2019 Rhodes State College Respiratory Care Program received The Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award. This award is presented as part of the CoARC’s continued efforts to value the RRT credential as a standard of professional achievement. From a program effectiveness perspective, the CoARC views the RRT credential as a measure of a program’s success in inspiring its graduates to achieve their highest educational and professional aspirations.

Programmatic Outcomes Data
http://www.coarc.com/Students/Programmatic-Outcome-Data.aspx