Through this degree program, students learn
how the lungs and respiratory system work by studying the procedures and
tools used to provide respiratory care. This program can lead to a
Respiratory Therapy Technician Associate of Applied Science or a
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.
Online Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Therapy Technician
The online associate's degree program in respiratory therapy is
intensive to the applied sciences, and students typically complete
health care courses with labs. Students who are interested in this
program must have at least a high school diploma or the equivalent,
although courses from some certificate programs could also be
transferred. Through the program, students study concepts pertaining to
normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, human diseases, respiratory
problems and
respiratory care.
Skills acquired from this program allow students to test and assess an
individual's respiratory health using a wide range of equipment. Most
associate's degree programs in respiratory therapy are campus-based.
The associate's degree respiratory technician program takes about two
years to complete. It is a hybrid program, which means students take
the majority of the courses online, although labs and clinical
experiences must be completed in person. This can be accomplished by
completing labs at a local campus and the clinical experiences at nearby
hospitals. Students complete the online portion of the program by
logging onto the school's Web-based application, where they can interact
with classmates and professors, download and upload assignments, watch
video lectures and take tests.
Specific hardware used in this program may include CD and DVD
players. Students also need to have a working computer with Internet
access as well as word processing software.
List of Common Online Respiratory Technician Associate-Level Courses
Courses are conveniently scheduled to allow students to take them at
their own pace. Students also take general education classes throughout
the associate's degree program.
Anatomy and Physiology Course
Students study the major muscle and skeletal systems in the body.
They also study the way pulmonary and cardiovascular systems work and
possible problems that could arise within each system.
Respiratory Therapy Equipment Course
This course trains students in the proper use of equipment. They
learn specific ways to keep track of patient records so they can be
analyzed by doctors and technicians.
Medical Terminology Course
In this class, students become familiar with the medical names for
drugs, body parts and procedures. They learn their spelling,
pronunciation, abbreviations and suffixes so they can easily complete
their responsibilities.
To find a career in respiratory therapy, licensure is required.
According to the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), individuals
completing the licensure exam must be at least 18 and either have an
associate's degree in respiratory care or therapy, or be enrolled in a
bachelor's degree program in the field (
www.nbrc.org). The exam
consists of 160 multiple-choice questions, and practice questions are
available. Upon passing the test, students become licensed Certified
Respiratory Therapists (CRTs).
In a respiratory therapy bachelor's program, students acquire the
skills necessary to assess people's respiratory health, test for
problems, identify solutions and prescribe treatment. The program is
intensive to the sciences and includes a number of health care courses.
To be eligible for this program, students must have at least a high
school diploma or the GED equivalent. There are a few online bachelor's
degree programs available in respiratory therapy, but they all have
components that must be completed in-person.
The bachelor's degree program takes about four years to complete. It
is available entirely online, and students do not have to make any
campus visits. However, labs and clinical experiences will need to be
completed in-person, at hospitals or other locations arranged by the
university. Students must have access to a working computer and reliable
Internet service to complete online coursework. Computer software
programs, such as Microsoft Office Suites, Adobe Flash and Acrobat
Reader, are usually required. A media player may be necessary.
List of Common Online Bachelor's-Level Respiratory Technician Courses
Respiratory technician courses are available through a flexible
schedule that allows students to complete them entirely on their own
time. General education classes are also part of the curriculum.
Respiratory Therapy Introductory Course
Students study the terminology for pulmonary and cardiovascular
systems in this course, including their roots and suffixes. They study
how the systems work and the responsibilities of the respiratory
technician.
Equipment and Procedures in Respiratory Therapy Course
This course introduces students to adult critical care procedures for
respiratory diseases that could affect adults. They also learn how to
use neonatal equipment for treatment of infants with respiratory
problems.
Infectious Disease Course
Students study infectious respiratory diseases and the issues
associated with them. They learn how to manage crises and study trends
in respiratory disease, including problems with the body resisting drug
treatments.
With a degree in respiratory therapy, individuals can find careers as
respiratory therapy technicians or respiratory therapists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (
www.bls.gov),
practicing respiratory therapists must be licensed by the NBRC. The
median annual salary for respiratory therapists in 2008 was $52,200;
respiratory therapy technicians earned $42,430 during the same year.
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