Overview
Respiratory Therapists perform diagnostic procedures such as arterial blood gas sampling, measuring lung function values, and studying sleep patterns. They administer oxygen therapy, inhaled medications, initiate invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation, airway clearance therapy, and manage artificial airways.
Respiratory Therapists work in a variety of healthcare settings to manage complex patients with breathing disorders and other medical issues. A Respiratory Therapist must be highly organized, possess critical thinking skills, have excellent communication skills, and be detail oriented. The demand for RT's has never been higher and is expected to increase in the next decade.
Job & Salary Outlook
Degrees & Certificates Offered
Faculty
Candace Ryan, RRT, MHA, program director/instructor
John Detwiler, RRT, BS, director of clinical education/instructor
Aimee Semin, RRT, BS, instructor
Brandy Robbins, RRT, MSOM, instructor
Schedule
Find quarter class schedules
Additional info:
- Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission accredits Metropolitan Community College. The MCC Respiratory Therapy program (Program Number: 200357) is accredited by:
CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.
- Respiratory Care program outcome data.
- Licensure: The Respiratory Therapy curriculum is accepted in all 50 states. This program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Students successfully completing this program will sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) exam and then can obtain licensure for the state they wish to practice in.
- What is Respiratory Therapy?
Respiratory Therapy is a specialized area of health care that works closely with individuals suffering from breathing difficulties and cardiac disorders. Respiratory Therapists are trained on advanced medical equipment and work closely with patients to manage complex medical conditions. A day in the life of an RT might include diagnosing lung and breathing disorders, interviewing, and examining patients to determine therapy, consulting with physician, managing ventilators and artificial airways, responding to emergency situations, and educating patients about lung disease.
Respiratory Therapists are vital members of the healthcare team and must possess critical thinking skills, have excellent communication skills, and be detail oriented. A Respiratory Therapist must be highly organized and have compassion to provide support to patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. You will find RT’s working in the following settings: hospitals, intensive care units, emergency rooms, newborn and pediatric units, operating rooms, patient’s homes, sleep labs, skilled nursing facilities, and doctor’s offices.
The demand for Respiratory Therapists has never been higher, so job stability is excellent. The opportunity to help people and make a lasting and meaningful difference in the lives of others means you will get much more out of your career than just a paycheck. The projected salary for RTs Working in the U.S. is over $62,000 a year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Respiratory Therapists is expected to increase faster than average over the next decade.
While U.S. employment in general is forecast to increase by 5%, the need for RTs will grow by up to 21%!
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Estimated program cost: $10,200.
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Respiratory Therapy Application is currently under construction. Contact program director, Candace Ryan with questions: Office phone (531) 622-4653; Email cdryan@mccneb.edu
NOTE: For accommodations concerning the application above, please contact our Disability Support Services.
