Respiratory Therapy

Overview 

Are you searching for a challenging career that will use your technical and interpersonal skills?  Do you enjoy helping people? A career in Respiratory Therapy might just be for you.

What is a Respiratory Therapist?

Respiratory Care practitioners work closely with patients and other health-care providers.  You will acquire skills in the management, treatment, diagnosis and care of people with cardiopulmonary disease. Training includes the use of medical gases, ventilator life support, aerosol medication delivery, and patient education.  Respiratory Care practioners work with a diverse range of patients from the premature infants to the elderly.

This two year program includes a summer session and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC).

Why RVCC?

• River Valley Community College’s Respiratory Care graduates, are in high demand at health care institutions throughout New England as well as the entire country.
• Credits obtained at RVCC can be transferred to various four year institutions for students wishing to obtain a higher degree.
• In a short time period you can be earning high wages, low student loans and very rewarding career helping people.

Career Options

• Flight Respiratory Therapist
• Neonatal Intensive Care Respiratory Therapist
• Department Supervisor or Director
• Educator

Related Degrees

•  Nursing
• Occupational Therapist Assistant
• Physical Therapy Assistant
• Medical Assistant

The Respiratory Therapy program at River Valley Community College is committed to the development of safe and competent Respiratory Therapists through rigorous academic and clinical learning. To encourage critical thinking skills, professional leadership, and mastery of practice, while instilling ethical values and appreciation of the diversity of the patient population.

Program Goals 

The program’s goals include demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRT).

Program Outcomes

 This program is sponsored by River Valley Community College in cooperation with acute care hospitals (19),Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs, and home care agencies. This program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC).

• Satisfy the general requirements for admission to the college.
• Obtain credits in High School Algebra, English and Chemistry.
• Interview with Program director.
• College Anatomy & Physiology I (may be taken as a co-requisite)
• Immunization records.
• CPR certification (American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers)
• Liability and Health insurance
• Criminal/Sexual Offender Records Information (CORI/SORI) check.