Respiratory Therapy Program Information

Respiratory therapists work with physicians and other allied health professionals to diagnose and treat patients with disorders associated with the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Therapists may be required to exercise considerable independent clinical judgment under the direct or indirect supervision of a physician and are trained to act as technical resource persons for both physicians and other health care professionals.
 
The Respiratory Therapy Program (RPT) is a balanced curriculum including both respiratory and general education courses. Course content includes the role of the respiratory therapist, health care concepts, and technical observations and skills. It provides the student with a strong background in the use of respiratory equipment, cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, diagnostic procedures, sleep disorders, and pathophysiology. The student receives direct, hands-on, patient care experience in various hospitals and facilities throughout their clinical education. The respiratory courses must be taken in sequential order. 
 
The Shelton State Community College Respiratory Therapy staff has been working diligently over the last several months to design a new high quality Respiratory Therapy Program. We appreciate your patience as we work to restructure the RPT Program to prepare successful graduates and apply for new accreditation status. We expect to hear for the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) if we have been approved to admit new students mid November. The College anticipates a positive outcome in receiving the approval and will post the outcome either way. We look forward to accepting a new class spring 2011.
 
The College anticipates accepting applications for the spring 2011 semester admission late November, with the intent to offer the RPT-256 (Writings and Research for the RCP) course during the 1st Split Term of the fall semester. Students who inquire about starting the program will be notified by email when applications are ready to be accepted and a link with the application posted on the school’s website.
 
Students currently not enrolled at Shelton State must apply to the College first before making application to the Respiratory Therapy Program. All general education course requirements, with the exception of RPT-256, CIS-146, PSY-200, and SPH 106, 107, or 116, must be completed by the end of this fall before you enter the Program. Students are highly encourage to successfully complete as many of the general education course requirements as possible prior to admission to the RPT Program.
 
General scholarship information can be found on the SSCC website by searching: external scholarships. Additional information may be found on the following website: www.nextstudent.com. Search the scholarship directory located in the Schools and Loans section.
 
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROPOSED FOR THE NEW PROGRAM:
Minimum Admission Requirements for RPT Program:
1. June 1 application deadline with selection of students in July each year.
2. An official transcript of all college work.
3. A copy of current class schedule, if enrolled.
4. Completion of RPT 256 (May be taken first semester of program if all other requirements are met)
5. A cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale on all college work completed and a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on all prerequisite courses.
6. Completion of all prerequisite courses with a grade of C (70) or above: MTH 100, ENG 101, BIO 201, BIO 202, and RPT 256.
     7.   A copy of Compass OR ACT Reading Scores. NOTE: This score must be within the last three (3) years and a  Compass Reading Score must be 76 or higher, ACT Reading Score of 17 or higher.
      8.  Only those students who have met all the criteria and submitted all required paperwork by the deadline will be considered for admission.
 
NOTE: Selection of students is made in July of each year for admission in the fall semester. Application does not assure acceptance to the Program.
 
 
CURRICULUM SEQUENCE FOR RESPIRATORY THERAPY PROGRAM
Prerequisite Courses
Course
Total Credit s
Theory/Lecture Hours
Lab Hours
Clinical Hours
Total Contact Hours
ORI 100 Orientation to College
1
1
0
0
1
BIO 201 Anatomy & Physiology I*
4
3
2
0
5
BIO 202 Human Anatomy and Physiology (Lab 2:1)
4
 3
2
0
5
ENG 101 English Composition I
3
3
0
0
3
MTH 100 Intermediate Algebra
3
3
0
0
3
RPT 256 Writings and Research for the RCP1I**
1
1
0
0
1
Semester Total
16
14                             
4
0
18
*BIO 103 is a pre-requisite for BIO 201 or satisfactory score on approved ACS placement exam.
         **May be taken first semester if all other admission criteria are met 
First Semester
Course
 
Credit Hours
Theory/Lecture Hours
Lab Hours
Clinical Hours
Total Contact Hours
RPT 210 Clinical Practice I (Preceptor 5:1)
2
0
0
10
10
RPT 211 Introduction to Respiratory Care
2
2
0
0
2
RPT 212 Fundamentals of Respiratory Care I  (Lab 2:1)
4
2
4
0
6
RPT 213 Anatomy & Physiology for the Respiratory Care Practitioner
3
3
0
0
3
RPT 214 Pharmacology for the Respiratory Care Practitioner
2
2
0
0
2
CIS 146 Microcomputer Applications
3
3
0
0
3
Semester Total
16
12
4
10
26
 
Second Semester
Course
Credit Hours
Theory/Lecture Hours
Lab Hours
Clinical Hours
Total Contact Hours
RPT 220 Clinical Practice II (Preceptor 5:1)
2
0
0
10
10
RPT 221 Pathology for the Respiratory Care Practitioner I
3
2
2
0
4
RPT 222 Fundamentals of Respiratory Care II
4
2
4
0
6
RPT 223 Acid Base Regulation and Arterial Blood Gas Analysis
2
2
0
0
2
RPT 234 Mechanical Ventilation for the Respiratory Care Practitioner
3
2
2
0
4
PSY 200 General Psychology
3
3
0
0
3
Semester Total
17
11
8
10
29
 
Third Semester
Course
Credit Hours
Theory/Lecture Hours
Lab Hours
Clinical Hours
Total Contact Hours
RPT 230 Clinical Practice III (Preceptor 5:1)
2
0
0
10
10
RPT 232 Diagnostic Procedures for the Respiratory Care Practitioner
2
2
0
0
2
RPT 233 Special Procedures for the Respiratory Care Practitioner
2
2
0
0
2
RPT 242 Perinatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care (Lab 2:1)
3
2
2
0
4
SPH 116 Interpersonal Communication
3
3
0
0
3
Semester Total      
12               
9                  
2
10
21
 
Fourth Semester
Course
Credit Hours
Theory/Lecture Hours
Lab Hours
Clinical Hours
Total Contact Hours
RPT 240 Clinical Practice IV(Preceptor 5:1)
4
0
0
20
20
RPT 241 Rehabilitation and Home Care for the Respiratory Care Practitioner
2
2
0
0
2
RPT 243 Computer Applications for the Respiratory Care Practitioner (lab 3:1)
2
1
3
0
4
RPT 244 Critical Care Considerations for the RPT Care Practitioner
2
0
0
0
2
RPT 266 Seminar in Respiratory Medicine I
1
1
0
0
1
RPT 268 Writing & Research for the RCP II 1 1 0 0 1
Semester Total
12
5
3
20
30
 
Program Totals
Credit Hours:                                  73
Total Contact Hours:                      1860 (124x15)
General Education Hours:              24
Respiratory Therapy Hours :          49                   
 
POLICIES FOR THE RESPIRATORY THERAPY PROGRAM:
Grading Policy & Academic Standards
In the Respiratory Program, each student is evaluated on a scheduled basis as to comprehension of theoretical concepts, safe performance and psychomotor skills in clinical areas and ethical and affective behavior expected of the professional practitioner. The Respiratory Therapy Program uses the following academic grading system:
 
A=100-90                    Excellent
B=89 - 80                    Good
C=79 - 75                    Average
D=74 - 60                    Failing
F= 59 - 0                     Failing
 
Academic Progression Policy:
1. A student must achieve a minimum grade of C (75) or above in every RPT course.
2. Respiratory courses are taught sequentially. (A student must have a minimum grade of 75 in every course in a given semester’s work to proceed to the courses taught in the next semester.)
3. In the event that a student makes a grade below 75 in any RPT course, the student must withdraw from the Program immediately.
4. The student may apply for re-admission to the Program; acceptance is conditional upon:
a. completion of application for readmission
b. fulfillment of admission criteria (academic and clinical)
c. space availability in the next class and the next clinical courses
d. successful completion of validation requirements in Psychomotor Domain and Cognitive/Knowledge/Academic Content Domain. An explanation of these validation requirements can be found in the Respiratory Therapy Program Student Handbook.
5. If the student does not achieve the minimum 75 grade in the second attempt of the same RPT course, or fails to achieve the minimum 75 in any other RPT course, the student will be withdrawn from the Program. The student may seek admission as a new student after a period of three (3) years.
6.  A student absent from the respiratory course sequence for more than three semesters must apply as a new student.
      7. A student will not be readmitted to the Program more than once.
 
Health & Health Related Policies:
Because participation in clinical instruction is an integral part of the Respiratory Therapy Program curriculum, each student is required to comply with all the policies and procedures of the contracted clinical agencies and the RPT Program. Therefore, each student is expected to uphold the contractual terms upon being admitted to the RPT Program. All costs/expenses associated with meeting the health and general policy requirements of the Program are the responsibility of the student. The following policies and procedures are required by all students upon acceptance to the Respiratory Therapy Program:
 
      1. Submit a completed RPT Health Form (physical examination packet) current within one year which includes:
a.  evidence of having received the first two Hepatitis B vaccination series
b.  varicella immunity (immunization record or titer)
c.  proof of tetanus vaccination            
      d.  documentation of a TB skin test
2. Current CPR certification at the health care provider level (BLS/Infant/Child)
3. Purchase of liability and accident insurance that is purchased through the College
4. Students are required to complete a Pre-clinical drug screen. The students must have a negative screen prior to being assigned to a clinical agency. The complete drug screen policy is located in the RPT Program Student Handbook
5. Students are required to have a background check prior to assignment to clinical/lab rotations. All students must sign a release form for permission to perform a background check as required by federal law. The student must abide by the RPT Program background check policy and clinical agency policy for which the student is assigned. Every effort will be made to provide students with the required clinical experiences to meet program objectives. Any student denied access by a clinical affiliate will be subject to dismissal from the Program
 
Essential Function Standards:
The Alabama College System and SSCC endorse the Americans with Disabilities Act. In accordance with College policy, when requested, reasonable accommodations may be provided for individuals with disabilities.
     
Physical, cognitive, psychomotor, affective and social abilities are required in unique combinations to provide safe and effective respiratory care. The applicant/student must be able to meet the essential function standards with or without reasonable accommodations throughout the Program of learning. Admission, progression and graduation are contingent upon one's ability to demonstrate the essential functions delineated for the Respiratory Therapy Program with or without reasonable accommodations. The student may request disability accommodations in writing to the Office of the Disability Services which is located on the second floor of the Martin campus. Any reasonable accommodations made by the RPT program must originate from the Office of Disability Services.
Note:   Respiratory Therapy Program information, policies and curriculum are subject to change without prior notice due to accrediting agency requirements.
 
Students may also take the general education course requirements and transfer to linkage colleges in the Alabama College System. Other Respiratory Therapy Programs are offered at Wallace Community College, Dothan, Alabama and Wallace State College, Hanceville, Alabama. Please visit their web sites at www.wallace.edu or contact the program director at 334.556.2291 for Wallace Community College or www.wallacestate.edu or contact the program director at 256.352.8310.
 
RPT Program Location:
Shelton State Community College
C. A. Fredd Campus
3401 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401
 
 

Respiratory Therapy Program Staff
Riva McAlpine, MAE, RRT
Program Director
Phone: 205.391.2629
Office: 136 C.A. Fredd Campus
Glenn Pippen II, BS, RRT
Clinical Education Coordinator
Phone: 205.391.2641
Office: 137 C.A. Fredd Campus
Beth Delbridge
RPT Clerk
Phone: 205.391.2654
Office: 137 C.A. Fredd Campus

 
Revised May 2010
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