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Respiratory Care
Course Outline Program Accreditation

Program Overview

The Respiratory Care program at Fort Hays Tech | Northwest is designed to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs). The curriculum is directly related to career standards and employment opportunities. Instruction includes both lab and classroom situations with an emphasis on clinical components.

Respiratory Care is the health care discipline that specializes in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function and health. Respiratory therapists apply scientific principles to prevent, identify, and treat acute or chronic dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary system. Their knowledge of the scientific principles underlying cardiopulmonary physiology and pathophysiology, as well as biomedical engineering and technology, enable them to effectively assess, educate, and treat patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. Respiratory therapists are involved in many specialty areas such as: Adult Intensive Care; Neonatal and Pediatric ICU; Pulmonary Function Laboratory; Sleep Laboratory; Home Care; Rehabilitation; Ground and air critical care transport.

*Students in this program are eligible for the Kansas Promise Act Scholarship.

Degree and Certificate Options

Associate of Applied Science

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate professionalism.
  • Apply standard medical terminology to define and translate common medical terms.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of laws, theories, concepts and/or principles to clinical situations.
  • Demonstrate basic patient assessment skills to include vital signs, breath sounds, palpation, percussion and patient interview.
  • Identify and explain the functions of anatomical structures.
  • Demonstrate laboratory and clinical proficiency in selection, assembly, application, monitoring and troubleshooting various pieces of respiratory therapy equipment.
  • Demonstrate mathematical and reasoning skills.
  • Demonstrate effective reading, writing, speaking, listening and time management skills.

Career Outcomes in
Respiratory Care

Projected Salary
$40,000– $75,000 per year

Job Placement

In 2020, Respiratory Care placed 100% of its graduates.

Program Outcomes

“CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes-based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.”

The Fort Hays Tech | Northwest Respiratory Therapy Program (#200530) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
(https://www.coarc.com)

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd.
Telford, TN 37690

Outcomes data from the 2018 Annual Report of Current Status has been posted on the CoARC website. Follow this link directly to the Programmatic Outcomes Data page: https://www.coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/

 

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Estimated Costs

Download the Estimated Program Costs Worksheet

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Schedule Tour

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Faculty

View the program faculty

Faculty & Advisors

Angela Kershner

Angela Kershner
RRT, Respiratory Therapy Instructor

Office: 785-890-1582
angela.kershner@fhnw.edu

Kim Horinek

Kim Horinek
Respiratory Care Instructor

kim.horinek@fhnw.edu

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Admissions Checklist

Below is a list of items Fort Hays Tech | Northwest’s Admissions Team will need prior to your acceptance into the Respiratory Care program.

  • A Fort Hays Tech | Northwest Application Completed and Submitted

  • High School or GED Transcript Submitted

  • (If Applicable) College Transcript Submitted

  • ACT or AccuPlacer Scores Submitted (AccuPlacer Testing can be scheduled on-site at the Northwest Tech campus)
 

Additional Respiratory Care Required Items
Because of the nature of a Respiratory Therapist’s work, as well as the limited number of students accepted into the program (15 per year), there are additional items required for admittance into the Fort Hays Tech | Northwest Respiratory Care program.

  • Two Letters of Reference
  • A Personal Statement Letter
  • A Copy of Your Immunization Record
  • Background Check Completed
  • Certificate of Health Submitted
  • Successfully completed the Medical Terminology course
  • Successfully completed the Anatomy & Physiology course
  • You will also be required to purchase black scrubs
  • The student is responsible for their own transportation to & from clinical rotations throughout the academic school year

Required items can be submitted in person at the Fort Hays Tech | Northwest campus, via postal mail addressed to: Fort Hays Tech | Northwest Admissions, 1209 Harrison, Goodland, KS, or through email communications with admissions@fhnw.edu. 

**All listed items must be completed and submitted in full by August 1st, or the student will not be admitted into the program.

***COVID-19 Vaccine Strongly recommended due to Clinical Site Requirements: Primary Series and Boosters

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Advisory Committee

Marlyce Campbell, CRT
Christopher Fulwider BS, RRT, SDS, AE-C
Jacquelyn Harvey, RRT
Karen Hooker, RRT
Adam O'Brien, RRT
Brett Palmer, RRT
Deb Peterson, RRT
Colleen Smith (community member)
Andy Gochenour, RRT
Seth Rider, RRT
Kody Rogers, RRT
Callie Siruta, RRT
Katie Solomon, RRT
Hunter Bell, RRT
Dr. Rubenthaler, Medical Director