Program specifics about earning a Respiratory Therapy A.A.S. Degree at Northland.
As a Respiratory Therapist, you can hold an exciting position on the health care team. Under the supervision of a physician, the Respiratory Therapist is responsible for oxygen and gas therapy, care of patients with cardiopulmonary problems including cardiopulmonary arrest, delivery of aerosolized medication, chest physiotherapy, obtaining and analyzing arterial blood gas specimens, pulmonary function testing, maintenance of patients in need of mechanical ventilators, and education of patients and families.
The Respiratory Therapist program is a Hyflex program. Students can participate in the theory components in person, online via zoom, or online asynchronously. There are required meeting times that student must attend in person for lab and clinical.
Program Accreditation
Northland Community & Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
The program is accredited by the following:
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
Program Outcome Data
264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN 37690
Program number: 200340
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.
Program Learner Outcomes
- Student will communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, and colleagues based upon respect for the dignity and work of each person.
- Student will apply principles of basic sciences to the required duties and skills in the practice of respiratory care.
- Student will perform safely and accurately, advanced-level clinical tasks in a structured health care setting.
- Student will perform job duties within existing ethical and legal parameter for healthcare professionals.
- Student will exhibit professional characteristics, behaviors, and attitudes appropriate to scope of practice for respiratory care practitioners.
- Student will perform accurate and efficient patient assessments according to policies and procedures required of respiratory therapists.
- Student will apply safety and infection control measures to patient care at all times in the classroom, lab, and clinic or hospital setting.
Program Goals
The goal of the respiratory program 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).
Licensure & Certifications
Graduation from a COARC accredited respiratory therapist program allows a graduate to take the National Board for Respiratory Therapy Exam (NBRC), which is a step in the process to obtain state licensure or registration as a respiratory therapist.
Additional Program Resources
First Aid/CPR
First Aid & CPR Certification Requirements
Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. Programmatic outcomes data reported on the CoARC website include:
3-year time period being reported;
CRT credentialing success;
RRT credentialing success;
Attrition; Job placement;
Overall Graduate Satisfaction;
Overall Employer Satisfaction;
On-time Graduation Rate;
Total number of program enrollees;
Total number of program graduates;
Maximum Annual Enrollment.
Respiratory Care General Technical Standards
In order to graduate from the Respiratory Care program, students must be able to perform certain technical requirements prior to graduation. Graduates of this program must be able to meet certain physical and mental requirements to ensure the safe performance of respiratory care procedures.
Due to the nature of typical employment assignments, a graduate of this program must be able to meet the criteria listed below related to hearing, mobility, motor skills (fine & gross), tactile, visual, physical endurance and mental/attitudinal standards.
1. Auditory ability sufficient to hear and understand patients and staff, assess and monitor patient sounds.
Examples: Communicate and interact with patients and families from a variety of backgrounds. Follow verbal instructions. Hear heart and breath sounds. Detect and discriminate between sounds of normal conversation. Identify and localize alarm sounds emitted from patient care equipment.
2. Mobility and strength sufficient to support and move patients.
Examples: Support and transfer patients, move in and out of treatment areas. Reach equipment or parts of patient’s body.
3. Perform multiple motor tasks simultaneously. Fine and gross motor skills sufficient to handle equipment and provide save and effective patient care; steady arm and hand movements while manipulating objects or assisting patients.
Examples: Operate and manipulate equipment, blood collection devices, several items at once. Administer aerosols, suction patient, and adjust pressure gauges. Lift and transport oxygen cylinders, move in and out treatment areas. Push/pull hospital bed.
4. Tactile ability sufficient to assess patients response to therapy.
Examples: Distinguish textures, degrees of firmness, temperature differences and pulse rate.
5. Visual ability sufficient to monitor and assess patient and equipment function to provide save and effective respiratory care.
Examples: Read written instructions/orders. Read fine print, monitors, and gauges. Differentiate color/character of sputum for signs/nature of Infection/disease. Chart procedures and observation in a permanent medical record.
6. Physical endurance ability sufficient to work in a clinical setting for eight (8) to twelve (12) hours performing physical tasks requiring physical energy without jeopardizing patient safety.
Examples: Remain standing and walking between patient care areas for over an hour. Perform chest compressions during CPR. Manually ventilate a patient for over 30 minutes during resuscitation.
7. Mental/attitudinal ability sufficient to interact with patients and other health care personnel in providing appropriate patient care exhibiting attitudes and actions consistent with the ethical standards of the profession.
Examples: Function safely, effectively, and calmly under stressful situations. Maintain composure while managing multiple tasks simultaneously. Prioritize multiple tasks. Exhibit social skills necessary to interact effectively with patients, families, supervisors, and co-workers of the same or different cultures such as respect, politeness, tact, collaboration, teamwork, and discretion. Maintain personal hygiene consistent with close personal contact associated with patient care.