Respiratory Therapy

Curriculum Sequence for Respiratory Therapy Program

Policies for the Respiratory Therapy Program

Grading Policy & Academic Standards

In the Respiratory Therapy 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=90-100     Excellent

B=80-89       Good

C=75-79      Average

D=60-74      Failing in the RPT Program

F=0-59        Failure

Progression Policy

1. A student must achieve a minimum grade of C (75) or above in every RPT course, and a grade of 70 or above in every academic course for which they are registered during the semester to continue in the Program. 

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. Students will be tracked and counseled (as it relates to academic progress).  A plan for success will be developed and placed in the student’s file when deficiencies are noted.

4. In the event that a student makes a grade below 75 in any RPT course, the student must withdraw from the program immediately.

5. The student may apply for re-admission to the Program; acceptance is conditional upon the following:

   a.  completion of application for re-admission

   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.

6. After re-admission, 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second attempt of the same RPT course or fails to achieve the minimum 75 in any other RPT course, the student will be withdrawn from the program.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 3 years and start the program from the beginning.

7. A student absent from the respiratory course sequence for more than three semesters must apply as a new student.

8. 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 clinical agencies and the RPT Program.  Therefore, each student is expected to uphold the contractual terms of the clinical agencies used 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. Proof of completion of a physical examination which demonstrates the student is free from disease (physically and psychologically) and must be documented on the Shelton State Community College Medical Record by a licensed  Health Care Provider, Physician, Physician’s Assistant,  or Nurse Practitioner.

2. Vaccinations which include the following:

   a.  Hepatitis B series or evidence of immunity

   b.  MMR (German Measles, Mumps, Rubella) if born after 1957 or evidence of immunity

   c.  Varicella immunity (immunization or titer)

   d.  Proof of tetanus vaccination

   e.  Current Seasonal Flu vaccine

   f.  Documentation of TB skin test

3. Purchase of liability and accident insurance that is available through the College
4. Completion of Pre-clinical drug screen prior to admission and being assigned to a clinical agency.  The complete drug screen policy is located in the RPT Program Student Handbook.
5. Background check prior to admission and before the first day of class. All students must give permission to perform a background check as required by federal law. The student must abide by the nursing 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.
6. Proof of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training at the health care provider level (BLS/Infant/Child) prior to admission and/or before the first clinical course
7. Health insurance strongly encouraged to cover health care outside of liability and student insurance
8. Completion of training on Universal Precautions, OSHA requirements, and the prevention and management of the spread of diseases. Training is given in the introductory/fundamentals course. Additional information is given related to hospital policies including, but not limited to, issues of confidentiality, procedures, fire and safety procedures, and documentation policies.

Essential Function Standards

The Alabama Community 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 Specialized Student Services, 205.391.3958, 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.

The essential functions delineated below are necessary for Respiratory Therapy Program admission, progression, graduation, and for the provisions of safe and effective respiratory care.  The essential functions include but are not limited to the ability to do the following:

1. Lifting and Carrying

   Lifting 50 lbs. maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 lbs.

2. Coordination

   Ability to coordinate eyes and hands or fingers rapidly and accurately in making precise movements with speed.    Ability to make a movement response quickly and accurately. Ability to move the fingers and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly and/or accurately.  Ability to move the hands easily and skillfully.  To work with the hands in placing and turning motions.

3. Climbing and/or Balance

   Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps and the like, using the feet and legs and/or hands and arms.

   Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching, or running on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces.

4. Stooping, Kneeling, Crouching, and/or Crawling

   Stooping:  Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist.

   Kneeling:  Bending the legs at the knee to come to rest on the knee or knees.

   Crouching:  Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine.

   Crawling:  Moving about on the hands and knees or hands and feet.

5. Reaching, Handling, Fingering, and/or Feeling

   Reaching:  Extending the hands and arms in any direction.

   Handling:  Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand or hands.

   Fingering:  Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with the fingers.

   Feeling:     Perceiving such attributes of objects and materials as size, shape, temperature or texture, by means of   receptors in the skin, particularly those of the fingertips.

6. Talking, Hearing, Seeing, and Smelling

   Talking:     Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.

   Hearing:    Perceiving the nature of sounds by the ear in order to communicate.

   Seeing:      Use of vision or corrected vision to determine the characteristics of objects.

   Smelling:   Ability to smell body and environmental odors such as bodily secretions or electrical equipment burning.

Upon admission, an individual who discloses a disability can request reasonable accommodations.  Individuals will be asked to provide documentation for the disability in order to assist with the provision of appropriate, reasonable accommodation.  The College will provide reasonable accommodation but is not required to substantially alter the requirements or nature of the Program or reasonable accommodations that inflict an undue burden on the College.  In order to be admitted, one must be able to perform all of the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations.  If an individual’s health changes during the program of learning, so that the essential functions cannot be met with or without reasonable accommodations, the student will be withdrawn from the Respiratory Therapy Program.  The respiratory faculty reserves the right at any time to require an additional medical examination at the student’s expense in order to assist with the evaluation of the student’s ability to perform the essential functions.

 NOTE:  Respiratory Therapy Program information, policies, and curriculum are subject to change without prior notice due to accrediting requirements.

Graduation Requirements & Comprehensive Achievement Exams

Requirements for graduation in AA, AS, and AAS Degree programs are listed in the College Catalog.  In the interest of preparing students for success on the NBRC CRT, WRRT, and CSE credentialing examinations, SSCC RPT students are required to take a comprehensive review seminar and a comprehensive three-part assessment exam prior to completion of the Program.  Students are also required to take the secure NBRC Entry Level Exam (ELE) SAE during the third semester in the RPT 232 curse and pass the identified required score.

Each student will have three opportunities to pass the three-part comprehensive assessment exams during the fourth semester.  If a student fails all three attempts on the comprehensive assessment exams, the student will receive an “I” for the RPT 243 course.  During the next semester the student will be given the opportunity to complete remedial work and allowed one additional attempt to pass the self-assessment exam(s).  If the student fails a fourth time, they will receive a grade of “F” for the RPT 243 course.  If this failure was the student’s first failure in the Program, they may apply for readmission to the Program and retake the failed course.  If the student fails the RPT 243 course a second time, then they must apply for admission to the Program as a new student.

Students are responsible for the costs of the review course and examinations.  Every effort is made to keep the costs to a minimum, but the students should plan for approximately $245.00 for the comprehensive review seminar, $80.00 for the comprehensive NBRC Entry Level Exam (ELE) and Advanced Level Written Registered Respiratory therapist (WRRT) Self-Assessment Exams (SAEs), $190.00 for the NBRC CRT, and $390.00 for the NBRC RT. 

Graduates will be able to sit for the NBRC CRT exam immediately after graduation.  Passage of the NBRC CRT exam qualifies the graduate as a Certified Respiratory Therapist.  After successfully passing the NBRC CRT exam, the student will be eligible for the NBRC RRT exam, and then the registration fees for the NBRC RRT exam will be sent.

Note:  The costs of the review course, online exam review account, and the NBRC examinations are subject to change.  Students will be informed of any increase as soon as information becomes available.

Associate in Applied Science