Respiratory Care

Overview

From premature infants whose lungs are underdeveloped, to older adults with chronic conditions or lung disease, respiratory therapists treat a wide variety of patients.

As a respiratory care student, you will:

Take courses online
Experience hands-on learning at a clinical facility during your program
Come to our MA campus for 5 days (Wed-Sun 8 hours per day) of clinical boot camp each semester for the Respiratory Care Procedures Classes I-IV (4 semesters)
Become part of a healthcare team, treating and caring for patients with cardiopulmonary diseases and disorders
Become qualified to take the Therapist Multiple Choice (TCM) exam, which determines your eligibility for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE) used to qualify for both Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapist).

Just Breathe

Respiratory therapists play a crucial role in the lives of patients who have difficult breathing due to a myriad of factors from development issues to lung disease and more.

Not sure if this program is the best fit? Here are some interesting highlights!

262

million people suffer from asthma - one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases (WHO)

23%

projected growth in respiratory therapy jobs between 2020 - 2030

10k

job openings each year are predicted in respiratory therapy through 2030

In-demand career

A person cannot survive more than a few minutes without oxygen, so it's no surprise that respiratory therapists play a critical role in healthcare by helping people breathe.

Not only do respiratory therapists help treat chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD, but they're also seeing an increase in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome - a condition that can happen as a result of COVID-19.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of respiratory therapists will grow 23% between 2020 and 2030, which is much faster than average. That's 10,100 job openings projected each year.

What does a respiratory therapist do?

Respiratory therapists can work in emergency rooms, intensive care units, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and even sleep centers. They work closely with doctors and other healthcare team members to evaluate and treat patients - this may include administering pulmonary function tests or taking blood samples to analyze oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Testing and treatments vary depending on the type and severity of the patient's condition.

You may be familiar with some of the more common breathing or airway problems, like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, and even sleep apnea. More recently, you may have heard of acute respiratory distress syndrome - a condition that can occur after illness or injury. This serious condition is on the rise in patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Respiratory therapists also work with patients who have suffered injuries or trauma to their lungs and airways.

“Respiratory therapists have often been considered one of the best-kept secrets in healthcare, owing to the remarkable value they provide despite their relatively low profile. But as healthcare begins to integrate the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, that profile will inevitably grow.”

Michael Hess BS, RRT, RPFT

Read more about the importance of respiratory therapists, now, more than ever

Video

About the Program

“People tend to think of the emergency part of respiratory care - running to codes, doing CPR, intubating, and putting people on ventilators. But the most rewarding part is improving people's lives and seeing people get better."

Victoria Mansfield Director of Clinical Education, Respiratory Care Program

Sharon Southwick
BS, RRT

Meet the Program Director

Sharon has over 25 years of respiratory care experience and earned her bachelor's degree in business management from Bridgewater State University.

Sharon has experience in critical care, clinical and didactic instruction, pulmonary rehabilitation, pulmonary function tests, neonates, and ECMO. She has worked at South Shore Healthcare, Massasoit Community College, Boston Medical Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Sharon also is a board member and previous president of the Massachusetts Society of Respiratory Care.

Learn more about this program

You’ll be able to download our program info sheet and receive an email from our Admissions team with information about the admissions process, tuition, courses, and more.

Download program info sheet

Accreditation, Clinical Sites, Goals, and Learning Outcomes

Accreditation

Clinical Sites

Program Goals

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

Exhibit professional behaviors consistent with the respiratory care code of ethics, ethical obligations, and professional conduct.
Apply critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, interpersonal communication, and technical skills necessary to provide competent patient-centered respiratory care in multidisciplinary care settings for patients of all ages.
Illustrate the understanding and application of physical principles of gas and fluid dynamics.
Understand the concepts of anatomy and physiology of the cardiac and pulmonary systems and the mechanisms of homeostatic control for acid/base balance ventilation, gas transport, and circulation for patients of all ages.
Identify the correct application for the implementation, monitoring, troubleshooting, evaluation, and strategies for discontinuing preferred therapeutic modalities employed in respiratory therapy such as gas, humidity, bland, and medicated aerosol therapies, passive hyperinflation, chest physiotherapy, postural drainage, airway clearance and management techniques, non-invasive and invasive ventilation strategies for patients of all ages.
Interpret the concepts and techniques of patient assessment with inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation, patient interviews and physical examination, arterial blood gas sampling, and analysis, basic pulmonary and sleep diagnostics, electrocardiography, imaging, and laboratory diagnostic testing for patients of all ages.
Illustrate competency in the initiation and maintenance of artificial airways.
Classify and explain the indications, contraindications, hazards, and routes of administration and correct dosages for all classes of respiratory drugs for patients of all ages.
Differentiate the etiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic and therapeutic properties of the diseases and conditions of cardiopulmonary patients of all ages.
Complete essential competencies in the sub-acute care setting.
Identify the roles and responsibilities of respiratory therapists in alternate care sites (i.e., pulmonary and sleep diagnostics, rehabilitation, and home care settings).
Apply the ability to inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently.

CoARC Outcomes Thresholds

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