Respiratory Care
Respiratory Therapists treat patients with various health conditions, such as asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, heart failure, and lung cancer, among others. Additionally, they address respiratory challenges stemming from traumatic incidents, strokes, cardiac and pulmonary arrests, heart attacks, and premature birth complications.
Respiratory Therapists may be found in acute-care hospital settings, including the emergency room, the intensive care unit, the newborn or pediatric intensive care unit, or the diagnostics laboratory. In addition to general procedures, Respiratory Therapists also monitor and maintain complex life-support systems such as mechanical ventilators. They work with patients of all ages, from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to senior citizens with advanced chronic pulmonary disease. Outside the hospital setting, Respiratory Therapists may work in sleep disorder clinics, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and home health agencies. Respiratory Therapists additionally assist with transporting critically ill patients via ambulance or helicopter.
Credentials and Licensure:
Completing the Respiratory Care Program at Triton College meets the educational requirements to apply for the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Students who achieve a high cut score on the TMC Examination become eligible for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE), and a passing score on the CSE is required to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. The RRT credential is nationally recognized as the “standard of excellence” for respiratory care professionals.
Once credentialed by the NBRC, you must be licensed by the individual state regulatory agencies governing medical professionals to practice respiratory therapy in the respective state. This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for respiratory therapists in Illinois. If you intend to seek licensure outside of Illinois after finishing your program, use the link below to find information on the state or U.S. territory in which you intend to be licensed to identify whether Triton’s Respiratory Care Program meets, does not meet, or if it has not been determined if it meets the educational requirements for licensure. List of State Licensure Agencies.
Specialty Credentials:
NBRC offers specialty credentials in the following areas of respiratory care: Adulty Critical Care, Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care, Pulmonary Function Technology, Sleep Disorders, and Asthma Education. NBRC credentialed practitioners become eligible to apply for specialty credential examinations three months to one year after earning the RRT credential (actual time frames vary by current credential and desired specialty credential).
Accreditation:
Triton College is pursuing accreditation for the Respiratory Care program through the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). However, Triton College can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the CoARC. Contact information: 264 Precision Blvd, Telford, TN 37690, USA, Telephone: 817-283-2835, Fax: 817-354-8519, Email: WEBMASTER@COARC.COM. Click HERE for Programmatic Outcome Data.
Program Goal:
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).
Program Learning Outcomes:
After successful completion of the respiratory care program, the graduate will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the following aspects of communication skills and interpersonal relationships: verbal, nonverbal, listening, conflict, gender, and diversity.
- Demonstrate the ability to acquire and evaluate clinical data and modify therapy to achieve therapeutic objectives.
- Demonstrate the ability to assess the cardiopulmonary status of patients and implement respiratory care plans.
- Determine the correct management and maintenance of the artificial and anatomical airway as well as the lung mechanics pertinent to the mechanically ventilated patient.
- Demonstrate proficient clinical skills by performing prescribed adult, pediatric and neonatal respiratory care procedures.
- Demonstrate the skills necessary to set-up, manage, and troubleshoot advanced modes of ventilation.
- Interpret diagnostics such as arterial blood gasses, capnography, hemodynamic values, hematology and electrolytes as they apply to the assessment of the care of the critically ill patient.
Applications
Complete the MANDATORY application for Triton College.
In addition to fulfilling the selective admission health program requirements, candidates must complete the following general admission requirements: complete a Triton College application, submit applicable transcripts, take placement exams or demonstrate course equivalency, and complete new student orientation.
Complete the MANDATORY Selective Admission Application for Health Careers.
Attendance at an information session is ENCOURAGED in order to apply for admission to this program. By attending an information session, you will learn what is expected of you as an applicant as well as the functionality of the program. Please register through our form below.
RESPIRATORY CARE DEGREE INFORMATION SESSION REGISTRATION
Advanced Placement Policy
The Respiratory Care program at Triton College does not offer advanced placement. Additionally, work experience is not accepted in place of required respiratory care coursework. Prior education credits from an accredited institution will only be accepted if an articulation agreement is in place with the transfer student’s previous institution.
Department Information & Links
Degrees
Courses
Main Links
- Admission Dates
- Program Admission Checklist
- PowerPoint: Respiratory Care Program
- Respiratory Care – Program Details
- Program Handbook
- Clinical Site List
- Technical Skills Requirements
- Tuition
Contact Information
Dr. Peter Jaswilko
Chair, Allied Health Department
Office: H-232
(708) 456-0300, Ext. 3928
peterjaswilko@triton.edu
Kelly Lee, BS, RRT, RRT-NPS, CPFT
Respiratory Faculty
Office: H-233
708-456-0300, Ext. 3930
kellylee@triton.edu
Christopha Cox
Health Careers Information Specialist
Office: H-134
708-456-0300, Ext. 3474
christophacox@triton.edu
Ben Snively
Academic Advisor for Respiratory Care
Office: H-141D
708-456-0300, Ext. 3124
benjaminsnively@triton.edu
Advising Department
Academic Advisors