What is Respiratory Care?
Respiratory Care is a specialized healthcare field where practitioners, known as Respiratory Therapists, are trained in pulmonary medicine to work therapeutically with people suffering from pulmonary disease. The educational preparation to enter this profession is an Associate degree in Respiratory Care from an accredited program.
What are Respiratory Therapists?
Respiratory Therapists (RT) are also known as Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP) can be found at the bedside in community hospitals, medical centers, and clinics working with patients. The role of RT’s is diverse and you will find them in hospitals, but also working in helicopters or Learjets transporting critically ill patients, in research labs, managing departments, and teaching. From the first breath at birth and beyond, RTs help patients at all stages of life. Helping others in their time of need is the foundation of Respiratory Care. This profession offers continued challenge and variety with several advanced degrees and specialty credentials opportunities for practitioners as they grow within their profession. As a Respiratory Therapist, you define your career path. Always learning, RTs stay ahead of the latest trends in technology and have a passion for math and science. Respiratory therapists are in high demand, making this a solid career choice for anyone interested in becoming a healthcare professional.
Demand for Respiratory Therapists
In the rural West Texas region, job growth for Respiratory Therapists is projected to be 8.4% for the next 5 years, and 13.6% for the next 10 years. In the specific areas serviced by the college, the project growth for RT jobs is as high as 16.7% for 5 years up to 27% for 10-years. On a national level the demand and job of Respiratory Therapists exceeds 13%.
Respiratory Care program at Odessa College
The Respiratory Care program at Odessa College is an Associate of Applied Sciences degree program in Respiratory Care (AASRC). The College will implement the new program and accept its first students in Spring 2025. Approximately 15-17 students are anticipated to enroll in the program at the start of each academic year. The program will be ongoing and service the demand for licensed respiratory care professionals not only in the Permian Basin, but the entire OC service area. The program consists of 18 prerequisite courses that need to be completed before a student can be admitted to the Respiratory Care program. The core Respiratory Care program consists of 48 credits of courses that will be completed over 6 semesters (22-months). The core program includes classroom instruction, laboratory skills training, and direct patient care clinical practice.
| Course # | Weeks | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-RC Program Prerequisite Courses | |||
| BIOL 2401 | 8 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 2402 | 8 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| HUMA 2319 | 8 | American Minority Studies | 3 |
| PSYC 1300 | 8 | Learning frameworks | 3 |
| ENGL1301 | 8 | Composition I | 3 |
| HPRS 1106 | 8 | Essentials of Medical terminology | 1 |
| Pre RC-Program Total Credits | 18 | ||
| Core RC Program Courses | |||
| RSPT 1225 | 8 | Respiratory Care Sciences | 2 |
| RSPT 1240 | 8 | Advanced Cardiopulmonary A&P | 2 |
| RSPT 1410 | 16 | Respiratory Care Procedures I | 4 |
| RSPT 1260 | 16 | Clinical Practice I | 2 |
| RSPT 2217 | 8 | Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology | 2 |
| RSPT 2210 | 8 | Cardiopulmonary Diseases | 2 |
| RSPT 1411 | 16 | Respiratory Care Procedures II | 4 |
| RSPT 2260 | 16 | Clinical Practice II | 2 |
| RSPT 2314 | 8 | Mechanical Ventilation | 3 |
| RSPT 2360 | 8 | Clinical Practice III | 3 |
| RSPT 2353 | 8 | Neonatal/Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Care | 3 |
| RSPT 2219 | 8 | Mechanical Ventilation for Neo/Peds | 2 |
| RSPT 2255 | 16 | Critical Care Monitoring | 2 |
| RSPT 1361 | 16 | Clinical Practice IV | 3 |
| RSPT 2247 | 8 | 8 Specialties in Respiratory Care | 2 |
| RSPT 1241 | 8 | Respiratory Care and/Rehabilitation | 2 |
| RSPT 2230 | 8 | Respiratory Care Exam Preparation | 2 |
| RSPT 2361 | 16 | Clinical Practice V | 3 |
| RSPT 2362 | 8 | Clinical Practice VI | 3 |
| Total RC Core Program Credits | 48 | ||
| TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS FOR GRADUATION | 66 | ||
As part of the core program requirements, students will have the opportunity to perform patient care skills in local hospitals, medical centers, and clinics. Each of the clinical affiliates will actively partner with the college and the program to provide relevant clinical practice for students to develop skill competencies in equipment set up and patient care. Over the length of the program students will perform about 800 hours of clinical practice. Scheduling of clinical practice for students will involve considerations for student geographic location, and specific rotations at various clinical sites to accomplish all required skills training. Clinical affiliates currently working with the college for the Respiratory Care program include:
| CLINICAL AFFILIATE | LOCATION |
|---|---|
| Medical Center Health Systems | Odessa |
| Odessa Regional Medical Center | Odessa |
| Midland Memorial Hospital | Midland |
| ContinueCare Odessa | Odessa |
| Ward Memorial Hospital | Monahans |
| Scenic Mountain Medical Center | Big Spring |
| Permian Regional Medical Center | Andrews |
| University Medical Center | Lubbock |
| Seminole Hospital | Seminole |
Application:
Students who are new to Odessa College will be required to complete the prerequisite courses and/or transfer credits from other colleges they have attended. Transcripts from other college courses will be evaluated to determine if they meet the prerequisite criteria.
Prerequisite Courses:
| Course # | Weeks | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-RC Program Prerequisite Courses | |||
| BIOL 2401 | 8 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BIOL 2402 | 8 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| HUMA 2319 | 8 | American Minority Studies | 3 |
| PSYC 1300 | 8 | Learning frameworks | 3 |
| ENGL1301 | 8 | Composition I | 3 |
| HPRS 1106 | 8 | Essentials of Medical terminology | 1 |
| Pre RC-Program Total Credits | 18 |
Advising
Students who are considering applying to the Respiratory Care program should meet with an academic counselor for the Health Sciences program for program advice. Also, monthly information sessions about the program will be available in both face-two-face sessions and online via Zoom. The Health Sciences counselors will have a schedule for potential students to sign up for these information sessions which cover the profession of Respiratory Care, the program at Odessa, requirements for license after graduation, and potential employment for graduates.
Admissions
The Respiratory Care program enrolls a new cohort of students at the start of each fall semester. Students who have completed their prerequisite courses or will have completed them by the end of May can apply for acceptance to the program between May 15 and June 15. A separate application will be required for acceptance to the program. Decisions on students that will be accepted for the new cohort will be made during the third week of June. Official acceptance letters will be sent to students by June 30. Students will have until July 15 to accept a seat in the upcoming class that will begin at the start of Fall semester in August. Students not accepted in the program will receive a letter explaining the reasons for non-acceptance. Students may re-apply during the next application period for the program.
Registration
Students who are accepted to the program will need to register for program classes by the start of the Fall semester. A list of books, materials, and uniforms will be provided to students in their acceptance letters. Students will need to meet with academic and student finance counselors as part of their registration for classes to plan for tuition and program expenses.
Following the completion of 18 credits of prerequisite courses, students can apply and be accepted into the Respiratory Care program. Acceptance is based on GPA during the prerequisite courses, score on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) assessment, and an interview with program directors. All students accepted for the Respiratory Care program will begin their core program courses in the fall semester.
The core respiratory care program is a rigorous program that requires students’ full-time attention. Students are encouraged not to work full-time during their program. If students do decide to be employed during their program, part-time work is acceptable if it does not interfere with classroom, lab, and clinical schedules. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 during their program.
The respiratory care program will include continuous enrollment for 22 months with breaks between semesters. Students will be engaged in classroom, laboratory, and clinical practice activities during weekdays (M-F). During the first year of the program students’ clinical rotations at local hospitals will occur during daytime hours, or 8-hour rotations, 1-2 times per week. During the second year of the program, the clinical rotations will include both day and night shifts that will coincide with normal hospital shifts of up to 12 hours per shift, 2-3 times per week. During both summer one and summer two, students will be scheduled for clinical rotations for three shifts per week during an 8-week rotation.
Acceptance Letter
Following completion of prerequisite courses and application for the Respiratory Care program by the application deadline each year, students who are accepted to the program will receive a formal letter of acceptance. This letter will outline the details of student registration, orientation, start date, materials and books needed for the program, contact information for financial aid counselor support, and health screening requirements that must be met by the start of the program. Once a student receives an acceptance letter there will be a deadline to accept a seat in the upcoming cohort. Students must respond to accept or decline the offer to register for the program.
Program Cost
The cost for Respiratory Care program includes:
- The in-district resident tuition and technology costs for the respiratory care program are $6,732
- The out-of-district residency cost is $9,420
- The out-of-state residency cost is $10,908
- Additional costs for educational materials and related program fees is approximately $500 per year
Scholarships
Scholarship information is available for students who apply. Students who are planning to enter the program should meet with a financial counselor during the academic year prior to the year that they plan to enroll to determine what financial aid in scholarships, grants, and loans are available to them.
Odessa College’s Respiratory Care program is currently seeking provisional accreditation for its Associate in Applied Science degree program from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. In addition, the college is in the process of seeking program approval from its regional accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
CoARC accredits respiratory care 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. Information about CoARC program accreditation can be found at: https://coarc.com/. Information regarding the program outcomes published by CoARC can be found at: https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/
CoARC can be contacted at:
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd Telford, TN 37690 USA
Telephone: 817-283-2835
Fax: 817-354-8519
Email: WEBMASTER@COARC.COM
American Association for Respiratory Care:
Program Director
Dr. Bob Vega, RRT
rvega@odesa.edu
808-753-5478
Director of Clinical Education
Tiffany Gomez, RRT
Medical Director
TBD
