Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapists are members of the health care team that evaluate, treat, educate, and provide care for patients with heart and lung disorders. They are a vital part of the lifesaving response team that handle patient emergencies. Respiratory Therapists treat all types of patients, ranging from the premature infant to the elderly. In this rewarding career, you will become an important part in the patients “Breath of Life.”

A career as a Respiratory Therapist can provide a high tech and exciting career with the opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives. You will be the “Lung Health Expert.”

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Respiratory Therapy Program at Kaskaskia College is to provide comprehensive educational opportunities that will enable the graduate to become a Respiratory Therapist. The program is designed to develop and instill sense of obligation in the student to become a contributing member of the profession, while fostering attitude toward lifelong learning and development of skills.

Program Goal and Objectives

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 (RRT’s).

Objective #1-A: Upon completion of the program all students will demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply and evaluate clinical information relevant to their role as a registered respiratory therapist. (Cognitive Domain)
Objective #1-B: Upon completion of the program all students will demonstrate the technical proficiency necessary with all skills to fulfill the role of a registered respiratory therapist. (Psychomotor Domain)
Objective #1-C: Upon completion of the program all students will demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional expectations for a registered respiratory therapist. (Affective Domain)

Professional Organizations

Program Information

The Respiratory Therapy Program, AAS Degree Program, at Kaskaskia College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Respiratory Programmatic Outcomes Data

CoARC
PO Box 54876
Hurst, TX 76054-4876
Phone Number: 817-283-2835
Fax: 817-354-8519
Website: www.coarc.com

Program Medical Director

Aziz Rahman, MD
Respiratory Program Medical Director
618-545-532-0998
arahman@kaskaskia.edu
These are the academic and technical standards expected of a respiratory therapy student at Kaskaskia College:
1. The ability to speak and write in a clear manner.
2. The ability to read and comprehend textbooks and understand instructions.
3. Vision sufficient to assess patient status and to perform arterial punctures, operate medical equipment and read a computer screen.
4. Sense of touch sufficient to assess patient status and to perform arterial punctures. Sense of touch adequate to palpate and percuss the patient chest.
5. Manual dexterity sufficient to assess patient status, perform arterial punctures, perform CPR, operate medical equipment, and use a computer keyboard.
6. Hearing sufficient to assess patient status, hear pages and alarms, and use the telephone. Hearing adequate to hear breath sounds, equipment alarms and paging systems.
7. The ability to walk and stand for up to 12 consecutive hours on clinical training days.
8. The ability to walk quickly or run to respond to emergency calls or assist in critically ill patient transports.
9. Ability to climb stairs to respond quickly to an emergency on another floor when elevators are unavailable or full.
10. The ability to exert enough pressure to move medical equipment traditionally used by respiratory therapists in the acute care setting. This includes but is not limited to: ventilators, BiPAP machines, ECG machines and oxygen cylinders.
11. The ability to lift or move patients from infants to adults.
12. The ability to kneel, bend or squat and reach in any direction.
13. Ability to push or pull equipment up to 200 lbs.
14. Ability to lift equipment/supplies up to 50 lbs.
15. Ability to assemble complex equipment and perform fine motor skills.
16. Interpersonal skills necessary to work with peers, instructors, supervisors, multidisciplinary staff, physicians and patients at the clinical site.
17. Ability to cope with physically and mentally stressful situations.
18. Maintain composure and concentration while managing & prioritizing multiple tasks simultaneously.
19. Display actions, attitudes consistent with ethical standards of the profession.