respiratory care a great career that makes a difference
TRANSCRIPT
RESPIRATORY CARE
A Great Career That Makes A Difference
What is Respiratory Care?
• A health profession that specializes in the evaluation, treatment, education and rehabilitation of patients with lung and heart disease, under the direction of a physician
• Requires the application of scientific principles to promote optimum cardiopulmonary function and health
Be In Demand
• As a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), you will be in one of the fastest-growing, most desirable jobs available
• The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics shows demand for respiratory practitioners is expected to grow by more than 42% between 1998 –2008
• Family Money Magazine lists Respiratory Care among the top 50 careers for the 21st century (Jan/Feb 2000, p.52)
Why The Increase in Demand?
• Increasing numbers of patients with asthma and chronic lung disease
• Technological advances in treatment of heart attack, cancer, and accident victims
• Smoking and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Advances in treatment of premature babies• Rising numbers in the elderly population
Where Will I Work?
• Most RCPs work in hospitals where they perform intensive care, critical care, neonatal and diagnostic procedures
• Increasingly, RCPs are vital to the hospital’s lifesaving emergency response teams
• Other opportunities exist in nursing homes, home health care agencies, outpatient clinics, physician offices, and educational facilities
Who Will I Care For?
• RCPs are often responsible for the care of critically ill patients requiring life support
• Common breathing disorders include asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, chest trauma, and heart disease
Patients’ ages range from newborns to the elderly
Who Will I Care For?
Nature of the Work
As a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), you will evaluate patients’:• Lung function and capacity via pulmonary function
studies• Levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases
in blood samples via highly sophisticated electronic devices
• Cardiopulmonary status via diagnostic stress, sleep, and exercise studies
• EKGs and cardiac tests
Nature of the Work
As an RCP, you will treat patients by:• Administering oxygen and other
therapeutic gases• Managing medication• Mechanical ventilation• Resuscitation techniques • Providing chest and lung
therapies• Monitoring equipment and patient
responses to therapies
Nature of the Work
As an RCP, you will rehabilitate patients by:• Conducting low-impact aerobic
exercise classes to help those
who suffer from chronic lung
problems• Participating as a team in Cardio-
pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs• Working in home care for ongoing
pulmonary care
Nature of the Work
As an RCP, you will educate patients by:• Conducting smoking
cessation programs for both
hospital patients and others
in the community• Participating in asthma screening, reinforcing
prescribed medication regimes and
teaching preventative measures• Continually providing patients with the
latest theory on disease management
Career Potential
• Respiratory Care Practitioner (Level 1-4)• Pulmonary Function Technologist• Neonatal/Pediatric Therapist• Respiratory Care Educator• Pulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist• Sleep Disorder Therapist• Home Care Therapist• Respiratory Care Manager• Respiratory Care Supervisor
Future Opportunities
After obtaining CRT status, graduates qualify to take the NBRC Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exam
Advanced credentials in specialties such as pulmonary function (CPFT and RPFT), perinatal/pediatrics and sleep disorders are available with on the job training
Why Choose the Respiratory Care Program at NWTC?
• Provides advanced respiratory therapy training based upon national standards provided by the matrix of the NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care)
• CAAHEP-accredited program (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs)
• CoARC-accredited program (Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care)
Respiratory Care Program at NWTC
Upon completion of your training, you will be:• Awarded an Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Degree for Respiratory Care• Eligible to obtain a license in the state of your
choice• Eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory
Care (NBRC) Credentialing Examinations, which upon passing, leads to the credential Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
Requirements For Program Entry
• NWTC requires an entrance skill inventory for all program applicants
• Minimum standard composite score of 20 on the ACT assessment
• High school diploma or equivalent• High school Algebra with a “C” or better (or attain
program benchmark on skills test) • One year of biology AND one year Chemistry with a
grade of “C” or better• One year of physics or advanced math with “C” or
better
• Complete an interview or orientation• A medical examination satisfactorily
completed within three months before entering the program
• All students are required to complete an American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR course, and maintain a current CPR card to comply with affiliating agency requirements
Requirements For Program Entry
Desirable Personal Attributes of a Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Desire to help others by working in the health care system
• Mechanically inclined• Good interpersonal communication skills• Capable of working well under stress• Interested in working as part of a team• Sensitive to patients’ physical and psychological
needs• Have basic computer skills • Non-smoker
Core Courses
• Respiratory Therapy Survey
• Respiratory Therapeutics 1
• Respiratory Pharmacology
• Respiratory & Circulatory Physiology
• Respiratory Therapeutics 2
• Respiratory Diseases
• Respiratory Life Support Technology
Core Courses
• Respiratory & Circulatory Diagnostics and Monitoring
• Respiratory Neonatal/Pediatric Care
• Clinical Simulation Review 1
• Clinical Simulation Review 2
• Respiratory Therapy Clinical Practice 1-5
What Makes NWTC’s Respiratory Care Program Unique?
• Progressive Leadership• New Health and Safety
expansion project to meet the growing needs of the community
• Clinical affiliates nationally recognized for quality in health care
State of the Art Equipment
• State of the art equipment including the Human Patient Simulator where real life situations are simulated in the lab
Human Patient Simulator
Practice real life situations in the lab setting with a programmable manikin designed to simulate real disease states for any particular situation.
NWTC RCP Students have access to
• Dedicated effective faculty who genuinely care about the students
• Low tuition and fees• Financial aid and
scholarships• Counseling and career
placement• Up to date Learning
Resource Center• Computer and internet
research
NWTC RCP Students work with specialty physicians
• Neonatologists• Cardiologists• Pulmonologists• Critical Care
Specialists• Anesthesiologists• Emergency Room
Physicians
• Allergists• Cardiac and
Thoracic Surgeons• General Surgeons• Internists• Primary Care
Physicians
NWTC RCP StudentsAccess a wide variety of clinical experiences provided by
some of the most highly skilled affiliates in the country• St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay• Bellin Health, Green Bay• St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay• Theda Care, Neenah• Appleton Medical Center, Appleton• St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton• Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee• St. Luke’s Hospital, Milwaukee• Aurora BayCare, Green Bay• Froedtert, Milwaukee
NWTC Graduate Survey
Indicates Respiratory Care Practitioner graduates:• have a 99% pass rate on the NBRC entry
level exam• 100% job placement in their chosen field• 2005 entry level pay approximately $17.00
per hour plus shift differential• many employers offer tuition
reimbursement or sign on bonus
NWTC Employers’ Survey
Indicates that new graduates: • meet or exceed their expectations for
hire• are clinically sound• have the knowledge to think critically in
the clinical setting• are service-oriented health care
providers
NWTC Graduates
Are provided with an exciting, rewarding career in Respiratory Care
Is Respiratory Care for Me?
YES! If YOU want:– the ability to make a difference in people’s lives– a rewarding career with a good salary– the opportunity to help others– recognition and appreciation– a sense of accomplishment as a respected
member of the health professions– a role in decision-making – job security– job flexibility
AARC Guide to Professionalism
AARC video in PowerPoint, which will help you learn more about the roles and expectations of your performance on the job and beyond
Statement of Ethics and Professional ConductRole Model StatementPosition Statement of Diversity
Respiratory Care Professional Organizations
American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) web site that includes career information and a downloadable video on the profession
Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) web site that includes a complete list of all accredited respiratory therapy educational programs
National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC) voluntary health certifying board that evaluates the professional competence of respiratory therapists
For More Information
Contact …– Kathy Schlitz, BA, RRT, CPFT, AE-C
NWTC RCP Program Director
2740 West Mason Street
PO Box 19042
Green Bay, WI 54307-9042
(920) 498-5533
2006
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