Respiratory Therapy (Associate of Applied Science) - Memphis

Program offered at: Memphis, Tennessee

Respiratory Therapy (Associate of Applied Science) Mission Statement

The program provides students with the demonstrated competencies in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRTs). The program prepares students to sit for the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TMC) of the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). If the candidate meets the RRT score on the TMC, the graduate is eligible to sit for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) of the NBRC.

Learning Objectives / Instructional Outcomes

The program includes general education courses covering mathematics, written, verbal and nonverbal communications; interpersonal skills; critical thinking; the sciences; and the humanities. Learning objectives include achievement of sufficient theoretical knowledge and practical skills in initiation and conduction of therapeutic procedures, maintenance of patient records, equipment management, patient education, and specializations related to respiratory therapy.

Career Overview

Respiratory Therapists assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. They assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Respiratory Therapists initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment. They also may serve as asthma educators, patient educators, case managers, Hyperbaric Oxygen Specialists, Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialists and Sleep Specialists. Respiratory Therapists work in hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and diagnostic labs. The Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) deals with patients of all ages who may be gravely injured or ill. The RCP is among the first on the medical team called to provide treatment in cardiopulmonary emergencies. The RCP also cares for patients in all aspects of their treatment and recovery.

In order to graduate from the Respiratory Therapy (Associate of Applied Science) program, students must successfully complete the following curriculum: