Respiratory Care - Degree

Limited Entry, Associate of Applied Science Degree Programmhcc.edu/rc

respiratory

Prerequisite Advising

Academic Advising & Transfer Center: 503-491-7315 | Room AC2253 (Student Services) | Advising.Questions@mhcc.edu

Faculty Advisers

Jeanna Hunt: 503-491-7172 | Room AC2765 | Jeanna.Hunt@mhcc.edu
Christine Sciscione: 503-491-7467 | Room AC2791 | Christine.Sciscione@mhcc.edu

MHCC’s Respiratory Care program teaches students how to take care of people's breathing. Students learn, in classrooms and at hospitals, about helping adults, babies, and children with breathing problems. After they finish the program, they can take an exam to become certified to work as a respiratory therapist. They can work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and more. To be successful in this program, you should like science and be able to handle difficult situations. This program is approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

The Mt. Hood Community College Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, P.O. Box 54876, Hurst, TX 76054-4876. For more information, visit coarc.com or the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care's Programmatic Outcomes.

Graduates of this program are able to apply for entry into several Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care programs. 

Program Goals

The RC program prepares 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 Outcomes

At the completion of this program, students should be able to:

  • Collect and interpret clinical data accurately, relate theory to clinical practice and recommend appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in accordance with established clinical guidelines
  • Perform therapeutic and diagnostic procedures efficiently in accordance with appropriate standards of care, protocols and clinical practice guidelines; will modify therapeutic procedures in response to the patient’s condition; will efficiently use equipment and supplies and demonstrate thorough attention to safety
  • Communicate effectively with patients and members of the health care team and maintain appropriate records accurately and completely in accordance with health care agency standards and HIPAA regulations
  • Respect the beliefs and values of all persons, demonstrate self-direction and practice in an ethical and professional manner in accordance with established policies and procedures

Note: A minimum grade of “C” is required in all RT and BI courses, and all core courses must be completed within 5 years of starting the program.

For the most part, courses that fulfill general education requirements can be taken in any term.

Plan of Study Grid
First Quarter
FallCredits
BI121 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Course offered online) 4
MO111 Medical Terminology (Course offered online) 4
RT111 Cardiopulmonary Physiology 6
WR121Z Composition I (Course offered online) 4
 Credits18
Second Quarter
Winter
BI122 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology II (Course offered online) 4
RT121 Respiratory Care Procedures 5
RT122 Respiratory Care Procedures Lab 2
RT131 Respiratory Diseases and Pharmacology 6
 Credits17
Third Quarter
Spring
BI234 Microbiology (may be taken any term, but must be completed before starting fall term second-year courses) 4
RT132 Pulmonary Assessment 4
RT141 Mechanical Ventilation 5
RT142 Mechanical Ventilation Lab 2
RT150 Clinical Clerkship 1
Health and Physical Education requirement 3
 Credits19
Fourth Quarter
Fall
RT220 Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care 4
RT251 Clinical Practice I 9
MTH065 Beginning Algebra II (Course offered online) (or higher, excluding MTH098) 4
 Credits17
Fifth Quarter
Winter
PSY101
Psychology of Human Relations (Course offered online)
or General Psychology (Course offered online)
or General Psychology (Course offered online)
3
RT231 Cardiopulmonary Critical Care I 3
RT252 Clinical Practice II 9
 Credits15
Sixth Quarter
Spring
RT232 Cardiopulmonary Critical Care II 3
RT253 Clinical Practice III 9
WR122Z
Composition II (Course offered online)
or Public Speaking (Course offered online)
or Introduction to Intercultural Communication (Course offered online) (Cultural Literacy course)
4
 Credits16
 Total Credits102

Total credits include general education requirements included in the pre-program requirements.

respiratory

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Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for this Limited Entry program are available on our website at mhcc.edu/rc. Once you have read the admission requirements, if you have questions, please email LRAdmissions@mhcc.edu.

All students admitted are required to participate in a background check, drug testing and completion of required immunizations prior to attending clinical rotations. A minimum grade of “C” is required in all RT courses and BI121 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Course offered online) (Course offered online), BI122 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology II (Course offered online)  (Course offered online)and BI234 Microbiology  in order to continue and complete the program.

It is strongly recommended that students complete the following prior to admission into the program:

BI121Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Course offered online)4
BI122Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology II (Course offered online)4
BI234Microbiology4
Total Credits12

Prerequisite Advising

Academic Advising & Transfer Center: 503-491-7315 | Room AC2253 (Student Services) | Advising.Questions@mhcc.edu

RT111 Cardiopulmonary Physiology

Credits 6Fall

Registration Requirement: Acceptance into the Respiratory Care program.

An introduction to normal cardiopulmonary structure and function. Fundamental concepts in physics and chemistry, cardiac electrophysiology, hemodynamics, circulatory regulation, ventilation, respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, acid-base regulation and control of breathing are presented along with cardiopulmonary testing concepts.

RT121 Respiratory Care Procedures

Credits 5Winter

Registration Requirement: RT111 with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent enrollment in RT122 or instructor consent is required.

This course introduces the student to therapeutic modalities of respiratory care. Topics include oxygen therapy, gas storage and delivery systems, humidity and aerosol therapy, bronchial hygiene, artificial airways, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, infection control, medical ethics and charting.

Additional Course Fee: $25.00

RT122 Respiratory Care Procedures Lab

Credits 2Winter

Registration Requirement: RT111 with a grade of "C" or better; Concurrent enrollment in RT121; or instructor consent.

Laboratory demonstrations and activities designed to reinforce RT121 lecture.

Additional Course Fee: $25.00

RT131 Respiratory Diseases and Pharmacology

Credits 6Winter

Registration Requirement: RT111 with a grade of "C" or better; or instructor consent.

This course includes a study of respiratory diseases and their treatment, including the pharmacology of respiratory care. Included diseases are chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, infectious pulmonary diseases, neuromuscular diseases and lung cancer.

RT132 Pulmonary Assessment

Credits 4Spring

Registration Requirement: RT131 and RT121, each with a grade of "C" or better.

Physical examination, clinical laboratory, pulmonary imaging, electrocardiographic, spirometric, sleep studies, hemodynamic monitoring, respiratory monitoring of the respiratory patient and physician case studies are presented in this lecture/demonstration course.

RT141 Mechanical Ventilation

Credits 5Spring

Registration Requirement: RT111, RT121 and RT122, all courses with grades of "C" or better. Concurrent enrollment in RT142 is required.

This course introduces mechanical aids to ventilation as commonly employed in the clinical setting. Topics include physiological effects of mechanical ventilation, classification of modern ventilators and clinical applications.

Additional Course Fee: $200.00

RT142 Mechanical Ventilation Lab

Credits 2Spring

Registration Requirement: RT111 and RT121, each with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent enrollment in RT141 is required.

This laboratory course provides hands-on experience with selected ventilators and techniques discussed in RT141.

Additional Course Fee: $200.00

RT150 Clinical Clerkship

Credit 1Spring

Registration Requirement: RT121 with a grade of "C" or better. Concurrent enrollment in RT132 is required.

This course is an introduction to the hospital setting, patient assessment and respiratory care delivery.

Additional Course Fee: $100.00

RT220 Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care

Credits 4Fall

Registration Requirement: RT121, RT122, RT131, RT141 and RT142, each with a grade of "C" or better; or instructor consent.

This course provides discussion and laboratory activity addressing the cardiopulmonary physiologic changes and development from fetal life through adolescence. In addition, common respiratory and cardiac disorders of this population are presented and their assessment and treatment demonstrated.

Additional Course Fee: $25.00

RT231 Cardiopulmonary Critical Care I

Credits 3Winter

Registration Requirement: RT220 and RT251, each with a grade of "C" or better.

This is the first of a two-term sequence of courses that is designed to familiarize the student with topics and techniques encountered in the care of critically ill patients. Content includes discussion of data collection, assessment, pathophysiology and treatment of various life threatening cardiopulmonary conditions, ACLS theory, ventilatory support and other forms of life support. In addition and where appropriate, discussion of rehabilitation, health promotion, disease prevention and legal and ethical issues are presented.

Additional Course Fee: $200.00

RT232 Cardiopulmonary Critical Care II

Credits 3Spring

Registration Requirement: RT231 and RT252, each with a grade of "C" or better.

This is the second of a two-term sequence of courses that is designed to familiarize the student with topics and techniques encountered in the care of critically ill patients. Content includes discussion of data collection, assessment, pathophysiology and treatment of various life threatening cardiopulmonary conditions, ACLS theory, ventilatory support and other forms of life support. In addition and where appropriate, discussion of rehabilitation, health promotion, disease prevention and legal and ethical issues are presented.

Additional Course Fee: $45.00

RT251 Clinical Practice I

Credits 9Fall

Registration Requirement: RT121, RT122, RT131, RT132, RT141, RT142, RT150, BI234, and BI121 and BI122 or BI231, BI232 and BI233, all courses with grades of "C" or better.

This is the first of a sequence of hospital-based laboratory/clinical courses. It is designed to be an introduction to basic respiratory care skill with an orientation to adult critical care areas.

Additional Course Fee: $400.00

RT252 Clinical Practice II

Credits 9Winter

Registration Requirement: RT251 with a grade of "C" or better.

This hospital-based laboratory/clinical course is designed to familiarize the student with all areas of critical care. The student also is familiarized with special areas including pulmonary function lab, home care and rehabilitation. The student also gains skills in advanced assessment and clinical decision making.

Additional Course Fee: $400.00

RT253 Clinical Practice III

Credits 9Spring

Registration Requirement: RT252 with a grade of "C" or better.

This course is a continuation of RT252 and will continue the hospital-based laboratory/clinical course to familiarize the student with all areas of critical care. The student also is familiarized with special areas including pulmonary function lab, home care and rehabilitation. The student gains skills in advanced assessment and clinical decision making.

Additional Course Fee: $400.00

Course offered online

Cultural Literacy course