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Your Curriculum

Respiratory Care

Limited Entry, Associate of Applied Science Degree Program (2008-2009)*

*Information regarding the requirements for this Limited Entry program is available by accessing the Admission Requirements page.

MHCC Faculty Advisor:
George Hicks: 503-491-7172 - Room AC 2768 George.Hicks@mhcc.edu

Respiratory Care is an allied health discipline that uses scientific principles to carry out physician directed diagnosis and treatment of abnormal respiratory conditions. Respiratory Care Practitioners work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home care, research, education, and medical equipment sales.

The program combines basic science and modern respiratory care theory with clinical experience in local medical centers. Both campus and clinical learning focus on all areas of respiratory care, which includes adult, neonatal and pediatric, general and intensive care.

The Respiratory Care Program prepares the student for both local and national standards. Graduates are eligible to take the national entry level examination and the national advanced practitioner level examinations administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Passing these examinations serves to fulfill state licensure testing requirements.

The respiratory care profession continues to develop and diversify. Studies by the American Medical Association indicate that the need for Respiratory Care Practitioners will continue to grow.

The personal requirements necessary to succeed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner include a general aptitude for the biological and physical sciences. The Respiratory Care Practitioner is required to understand the physiology and pathology of circulation and respiration. Also required is the emotional maturity to deal with decision making in critical life and death situations.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, the student should be able to:

• apply and relate theory to clinical practice
• collect and interpret pertinent physical and laboratory data in the healthcare setting
• recommend appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using patient data from laboratory and physical evaluations in the health care setting
• modify therapeutic procedures in response to patient’s condition
• apply appropriate judgment while functioning in the healthcare setting
• perform therapeutic and diagnostic procedures in accordance with appropriate standards of care, protocols, and clinical practice guidelines in the healthcare setting
• efficiently use equipment and supplies in the healthcare setting
• demonstrate thorough attention to safety while in the healthcare setting
• maintain appropriate records accurately and completely in accordance with healthcare agency standards and HIPAA regulations
• communicate effectively in the healthcare setting
• conduct himself/herself in an ethical and professional manner
• function effectively as a member of the healthcare team
• apply constructive criticism and works effectively with supervisory personnel
• demonstrate self-direction and responsibility for his/her actions
• demonstrate timely arrival at the healthcare setting and be prepared to function and finishes assignments on time.

Applicants are admitted on a space-available basis after academic criteria have been met. Applications packets are available on our web site at www.mhcc.edu/LRadmissions. Once you have read the application packet, if you have questions, please call 503-491-7341.

Students who used the College Placement Test (CPT) to demonstrate mathematics proficiency for program admission as of 2004 2005 will not meet the general education requirement for the Associate of Applied Science Degree. Four credits of a mathematics course (MTH 65 or higher, excluding MTH 211) must be transcripted before graduation. Please see pages 7-10 for more details about the general education requirements of the Applied Associate of Science Degree.

Note: Although BI121 and BI122 is the anatomy and physiology sequence currently offered within the program, it is strongly recommended that students complete BI121 and BI122 prior to admission into the program.

All students admitted are required to participate in a background check, drug testing, and completion of required immunizations prior to attending clinical rotations. A minimum grade of C is required in all RT courses and BI121, BI122 and BI234 in order to continue and complete the program.

1 See (Optional Summer Courses)

‡See pages 7-10 of the printed catalog.