Respiratory Care (RESP)

Respiratory therapists are life support specialists concerned with managing, controlling and treating problems related to the cardiopulmonary system. Respiratory care practitioners work with the physician, nurse and other health care personnel.

The complexity of the respiratory therapist’s responsibility requires extensive training, dedication and professionalism. Respiratory Care takes place in such settings as intensive care units, the newborn nursery, surgical and medical units, emergency departments, outpatient departments, sleep laboratories, and home health facilities.

In addition to classroom learning, students enrolled in the Respiratory Care program gain hands-on experience while working in area health care facilities, under the supervision of qualified instructors. These clinical experiences teach students to apply their knowledge and skills in actual work environments. Because students and workers in the health care field may be exposed to infectious materials and communicable diseases, the program emphasizes safety and prevention.

Columbus State’s program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certification Examination for Entry-Level Respiratory Therapists and the Registry Examination for Advanced Respiratory Therapy Practitioners offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. Upon successful completion of the Certification Examination, graduates are eligible to become licensed as Respiratory Care Professionals as required by the Ohio Respiratory Care Board.

Upon completion of the Associate Degree in Respiratory Care, the graduate will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to collect and evaluate patient data; and recommend procedures to obtain additional data
• Demonstrate the ability to correctly assemble, use and maintain respiratory care equipment using principles of infection control and quality assurance
• Initiate, conduct, and independently modify prescribed therapeutic procedures and recommend modifications based on patient response
• Demonstrate personal and professional behaviors required for successful employment.

Specific Respiratory Care Program Admissions Information

Requirements for admission to the Respiratory Care program:

• High school graduate or GED equivalency
• Official transcripts of all previously attended colleges/universities
• Placement into MATH 135 Elementary Statistics
• Placement into ENGL 101 Beginning Composition
• Placement into “No Reading Required”
• High school biology with a “C” or above within the last 5 years
• High school chemistry with a “C” or above within last 3 years
• CHEM 113 with a “C” or above
• NURC 101 with a “C” or above
• Completion of the Health Occupation Basic Entrance Test (HOBET)
• Completed health record on file in the Health Records Office
• Minimum Total GPA of 2.50 or above
• Acceptable drug testing and background screening must be completed. Students receive this information upon acceptance into the program.

All admission criteria must be met by December 31 of application year.

Prospective students may obtain additional information at quarterly program information sessions. Contact Don Durst for information on session dates at ddurst@cscc.edu.

For additional information, please see the website at www.cscc.edu/Respiratory.

Statement Regarding Infectious Diseases

Students in this program perform their clinical work on patients in health care facilities and may therefore be exposed to many types of communicable diseases and infectious materials. These are not limited to, but may include, hepatitis (A, B, C or D), HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, measles, German measles, and mumps.

NOTE: ALL students are required to have appropriate immunizations after they are admitted to the program (information is provided to all admitted students). Additionally, although all precautions are taken to minimize exposure and risk, there is always a slight possibility that precautions may fail or that a student may have an accidental exposure. All students entering the program must be aware of this slight, but real, potential risk. All students are encouraged to have personal health insurance in effect by the first day of class.

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Respiratory Therapist Associate Degree

Quarter 1

Course	Name	Credits
BIO 261	Human Anatomy	5
MATH 135	Elementary Statistics	5
MULT 101	Medical Terminology	2
RESP 100	Introduction to Respiratory Care	5
RESP 160	Introduction to Respiratory Care Equipment	1
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		18

Quarter 2

Course	Name	Credits
ENGL 101	Beginning Composition	3
BIO 215	General Microbiology	5
BIO 262	Human Physiology	5
RESP 114	Introduction to Pulmonary Disease	4
RESP 150	Introduction to Pharmacology	2
RESP 170	Mechanical Ventilation	1
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		20

Quarter 3

Course	Name	Credits
HUM xxx	Humanities 111,112,113,151, 152 or 224	5
RESP 130	Patient Assessment	2
RESP 152	Case Management I	2
RESP 196	Clinical Practice I	8
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		17

Quarter 4

Course	Name	Credits
ENGL 102	Essay and Research	3
RESP 132	Patient Assessment II	2
RESP 154	Case Management II	2
RESP 198	Clinical Practice II	8
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		15

Quarter 5

Course	Name	Credits
COMM 105	Speech	3
RESP 230	Patient Assessment III	2
RESP 256	Case Management III	2
RESP 290	Clinical Practices III	8
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		15

Quarter 6

Course	Name	Credits
COMM 200	Business Communications	3
SSCI XXX	Social Science, 100, 101, 102, 105 (or) GEOG 240	5
RESP 270	Current Issues in Respiratory Care	2
RESP 292	Clinical Practices IV	8
RESP XXX	Technical Elective	3
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		21

Quarter 7

Course	Name	Credits
RESP 295	Clinical Experience	4
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		4
TOTAL DEGREE CREDIT HOURS		110

Students should request a plan of study from their faculty advisor.

Technical Electives must be selected from the following list of courses:

Course	Name	Credits
RESP 232	Pediatric Respiratory Care	3
RESP 238	Pulmonary Functions	3
RESP 251	Respiratory Care Home Care Techniques	3
RESP 280	Respiratory Care Seminar	2
RESP 221	Introduction to Sleep Problems	2
RESP 223	Level I Polysomnography Technician	2
RESP 224	Level I Polysomnography Technician Clinical	2
RESP 225	Level II Polysomnography Technician	2
RESP 226	Level II Polysomnography Technician Clinical	2
RESP 228	Polysomnography Current Topics	2

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Sleep Study Certificate

Sleep technicians, also called polysomnography technicians, monitor various physiologic parameters in adults and children during a sleep study. Sleep technicians summarize the information for the sleep physician to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment.

Students enrolled in the Sleep Study Certificate receive didactic and clinical training from registered polysomnographic technologists.

A student completing the Sleep Study Certificate will be able to:

• Demonstrate basic understanding of the function of sleep and the effects of sleep on the different body systems.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the different stages of the normal architecture of sleep and the function of the circadian rhythm.
• Demonstrate an understanding of basic sleep disorders, sleep hygiene, and the effects of sleep deprivation on the body and society.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the functions of sleep and the electrical activity of the brain during sleep.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the basic electronics and instrumentation used in a sleep lab.
• Demonstrate knowledge of EEG electrode placement and respiratory monitoring devices.
• Demonstrate the ability to score polysomnography tracings.
• Demonstrate the ability to titrate various treatment devices to provide patient education.

Specific Sleep Studies Certificate Admission Information

Requirements for admission to the Sleep Study Certificate program are:

• High school graduate or GED equivalency
• Placement into ENGL 101
• BIO 100, CHEM 100, MATH 102 with a grade of “C” or better
• MULT 102 or proof of current Health Care Provider CPR certification
• Completed health statement. See Health Records Office for detailed requirements.
• Acceptable drug testing and background screening must be completed.

Quarter 1

Course	Name	Credits
RESP 221	Introduction to Sleep Medicine	2
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		2

Quarter 2

Course	Name	Credits
RESP 223	Level I Polysomnography Technician	2
RESP 224	Level I Polysomnography Technician Clinical	2
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		4

Quarter 3

Course	Name	Credits
RESP 225	Level II Polysomnography Technician	2
RESP 226	Level II Polysomnography Technician Clinical	2
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS		4
TOTAL CERTIFICATE CREDIT HOURS		10