Mar 28, 2024  
Mansfield University 2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Mansfield University 2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Respiratory Care, Bachelor of Science


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Offered by the Department of Health Sciences


This program is accepting applicants for Fall 2019 and beyond.

Mansfield University’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program blends the resources of a public university and regional medical centers.  This collaboration leads to a program that is academically and clinically strong.

This program has a record of 100% employment of its graduates.  Graduates are employed in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation facilities, home care, physician offices, the pharmaceutical industry, medical equipment companies, clinical research facilities, and colleges and universities.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/respiratory-therapists.htm) states that employment of respiratory therapists nationally is projected to grow 23 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than average for all occupations.

Students spend their first two years on the Mansfield campus taking courses in general education and an introductory course in respiratory care.  The second two years are at the Sayre campus where they engage in a large variety of clinical experiences at Robert Packer Hospital and other area hospitals.  The use of simulation as a learning strategy is an integral part of the program curriculum.  Embedded within the program curriculum is credentialing in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Life Support (PALS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Protocol (NRP).

Respiratory therapists care for patients with breathing difficulty in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, physician offices, and the home.  The patients range from the premature newborn infant with underdeveloped lungs to the elderly patient with chronic lung disease.  Therapists routinely interview and perform physical examination of patients, administer diagnostic breathing tests, develop treatment plans, collaborate with the physician and other members of the healthcare team, administer breathing treatments such as aerosol medication and chest physical therapy and document patient response to therapy.  As a life support specialist, therapists provide emergency care such as CPR and mechanical ventilation to patient suffering from disorders such as pneumonia, major trauma, shock, heart attack, or acute respiratory failure.  Specialty areas available to the therapist include pediatric and neonatal care, adult critical care, emergency medicine, pulmonary function testing, patient transport, pulmonary rehabilitation, home care, patient education, respiratory care education, clinical research, and health care administration.  Additional information concerning the respiratory care profession is available at the American Association for Respiratory Care website, www.aarc.org.

The Mansfield University respiratory care program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), 1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, Texas 76021, (817)283-2835 (www.coarc.com).  Outcomes data for this and other accredited respiratory care programs may be found at the CoARC website.

Mission

The mission of the Mansfield University respiratory care program is to integrate Mansfield University’s liberal arts emphasis with knowledge, skills, and values that promote the health and well-being of the people and the communities we serve.  Through this integration, graduates will meet the standards of respiratory care practice defined by the professional credentialing agency, the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), and the professional accrediting agency, the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

Vision

The Mansfield University baccalaureate in respiratory care program will produce graduates who are recognized for their excellence in practice.

Values

The Mansfield University respiratory care faculty value the Mansfield University’s Creed as follows:

Scholarship:  We enthusiastically embrace student learning.  We believe students should be actively engaged learners in and out of the classroom.  We believe faculty and students should be life-long learners.

Character:  We provide an environment which encourages personal accountability, integrity, honest, and courage.  We create an atmosphere which promotes and fosters integrity and professionalism.

Culture:  We celebrate the uniqueness of individuals with whom respiratory care professionals interact.  Opportunities are provided for students to learn about cultural competence and social justice.

Service:  We support our community and embrace service learning.  We encourage our students to participate in volunteer activities.

Program Goals:

  • Prepare students as registered respiratory therapists.
  • Prepare competent respiratory care practitioners for advanced level careers in respiratory care (educators, researchers, managers, clinical specialists, respiratory care equipment sales representatives, and in other roles throughout the healthcare system.
  • Prepare students for leadership roles, professionalism, and a commitment to lifelong learning in respiratory care related fields.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • RC program graduates will demonstrate the clinical knowledge, professional attributes, and interpersonal and inter-professional communication relevant to the role of a registered respiratory therapist.
  • RC program graduates will demonstrate the technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of a registered respiratory therapist.
  • RC program graduates will demonstrate personal behaviors consistent with professional and employer expectations for a bachelor degree registered respiratory therapist.

Program Requirements: Respiratory Care (B.S.): 120 s.h.


Total Credit Hours: 81


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