The Respiratory Care program is offered in cooperation with Brookdale Community College. Students can complete their first two semesters at Mercer and their final four at Brookdale. Respiratory Care courses at Brookdale are only offered once a year in the four-semester course sequence. For more information on the arrangement, including admissions, coursework, and testing requirements, contact the Respiratory Care program coordinator at Mercer immediately to review conditions.

This program prepares students for entry-level positions in respiratory care. Students work with patients in the treatment, management, and control of problems and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system.

Graduates work closely with patients, doctors, and nurses to provide diagnostic testing, therapeutics, education, rehabilitation, monitoring, life support, and other specialized methods of treatment. Clinical learning experiences are required of all students.

Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) Examination. After successful completion of this examination and application to the Respiratory Care Board, the graduate is also eligible for state licensure as a Certified Respiratory Therapist. Once licensed, graduates are eligible to take the Advanced Practitioner Examinations to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoArc), 1701 West Euless Blvd., Suite 300, Euless, TX 76040, (817) 283-2835.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

• Assess, analyze, implement, and evaluate respiratory care;
• Perform respiratory quality control activities;
• Apply basic principles of management in the care of groups of patients;
• Exhibit therapeutic communication skills;
• Incorporate ethical/legal considerations into the respiratory action plan;
• Practice as a member of a diverse interdisciplinary healthcare team;
• Continue personal and professional growth;
• Incorporate principles from the social sciences, biologic sciences, and humanities into their practice;
• Practice within the limits and scope of a licensed respiratory therapist.