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Respiratory Care - Associate in Applied Science Degree

The goal of the Respiratory Care Program at Horry-Georgetown Technical College is 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 (RRTs). Respiratory Care therapists have a vital role of taking care of patients who suffer from heart and lung ailments. Horry-Georgetown Technical College Respiratory Care program trains students with the most up-to-date technology and equipment, so graduates are ready for employment in the career. At HGTC, you as a student will realize the important part you’ll have in today’s healthcare system caring for high-risk patients in their most intense moments.
For more information about Health Science Admissions visit: www.hgtc.edu/healthscience
For more information, contact:
Sheri Tanner (843) 839-1102
The Respiratory Care program, Program Number 200622, Associate in Applied Science
Degree on the Grand Strand Campus holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission
on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To
achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are
performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the
program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. This status
signifies that a program that has been granted an Approval of Intent has demonstrated
sufficient compliance to initiate a program in accordance with the Standards through
the completion and submissions of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study
Report (PSSR), completion of an initial on-site visit, and other documentation required
by the CoARC. The conferral of Provisional Accreditation denotes a new program that
has made significant progress towards meeting the Standards of Accreditation. The
program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until achieving Continuing Accreditation.
It is recognized by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) toward eligibility
to the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). Enrolled students completing
the program under Provisional Accreditation are considered graduates of a CoARC accredited
program.
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care Programmatic Outcomes Data.
Program Mission
- To provide the opportunity for individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds to enter the respiratory therapy profession.
- To graduate students who exemplify the core values of the profession of Registered Respiratory Therapist.
- To have the faculty, students and staff contribute to the health and well-being of our community, and society through competent practice leadership, education, and humanistic ethical practices.
- To adapt technological advancements into the clinical practice.
Goals
“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 (RRTs).”
Learning Outcomes
Respiratory therapists provide patient care, which includes clinical decision-making and patient education. The respiratory care scope of practice includes, but is not limited to the following basic competencies:
- acquiring and evaluating clinical data;
- assessing the cardiopulmonary status of patients;
- performing, and/or assisting in the performance of, prescribed diagnostic studies such as: obtaining blood samples; blood gas analysis; pulmonary function testing; and polysomnography;
- evaluating data to assess the appropriateness of prescribed respiratory care;
- establishing therapeutic goals for patients with cardiopulmonary disease;
- participating in the development and modification of respiratory care plans;
- case management of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases;
- initiating prescribed respiratory care treatments, evaluating and monitoring patient responses to such therapy and modifying the prescribed therapy to achieve the desired therapeutic objectives; managing life support activities;
- conducting and evaluating prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation;
- providing patient, family, and community education;
- promoting cardiopulmonary wellness, disease prevention, and disease management;
- promoting evidence-based practice by using established clinical practice guidelines and by evaluating published research for its relevance to patient care.
Career Outlook
Respiratory Therapists have excellent career opportunities with work schedules that can be flexible, whether you are employed full-time or part-time. Financial rewards are excellent and the work is challenging. Career opportunities are available in the following settings:
- Hospitals
- Healthcare offices
- Nursing and rehabilitation facilities
- Home health
For more information about careers, visit O*Net Online for an overview of South Carolina and National earnings statistics, and Career Services for more employment, career, and professional development resources.
Program Information |
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Specific Admission Requirements for Program
Having met one of the following two admission options:
Application to the program and deadlines are available on the Health Science webpage. COURSE SEQUENCE & PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS Earn a minimum grade of "C" in all general education, support and RES courses. Failure of one required course will result in the student being dropped from the program with eligibility for readmission. A student who has a second failure in any one of the required courses, or failure in any two of the required courses will not be eligible for readmission to the RES program. Failure is defined as receiving a grade below "C" in any course. Students may apply for readmission to RES program after 2-year time period from 2nd course failure. |
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Curriculum Sequence |
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General Education Requirements | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
24 | ||
Completion of the prerequisite courses with a grade of "C" or better: |
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First Semester - Fall | ||
RES 101 | Introduction to Respiratory Care | 3 |
RES 121 | Respiratory Skills I | 4 |
RES 246 | Respiratory Pharmacology | 2 |
RES 152 | Clinical Applications II | 3 |
TOTAL | 12 | |
Second Semester - Spring | ||
RES 111 | Pathophysiology | 2 |
RES 131 | Respiratory Skills II | 4 |
RES 232 | Respiratory Therapeutics | 2 |
RES 154 | Clinical Applications II | 4 |
TOTAL | 12 | |
Third Semester - Summer | ||
RES 141 | Respiratory Skills III | 3 |
RES 220 | Hemodynamic Monitoring | 1 |
RES 235 | Respiratory Diagnostics | 4 |
RES 249 | Comprehensive Applications | 2 |
TOTAL | 10 | |
Fourth Semester - Fall | ||
RES 204 | Neonatal/Pediatric Care | 3 |
RES 236 | Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics | 3 |
RES 253 | Advanced Clinical Studies I | 6 |
TOTAL | 12 | |
Fifth Semester - Spring | ||
RES 242 | Advanced Respiratory Care Transition | 1 |
RES 244 | Advanced Respiratory Skills I | 4 |
RES 254 | Advanced Clinical Studies II | 7 |
TOTAL |
12 |
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Total Credit Hours |
82 |