Respiratory Therapy, AS

This program is available in the following Florida campuses:

Fort Lauderdale Campus

Keiser University’s Associate of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy prepares students for employment as respiratory therapists under the supervision of licensed physicians. A Respiratory Therapist provides education, diagnostic testing and respiratory therapy in the management of conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute cardio-respiratory failure, asthma, and other pulmonary pathologies.

Responsibilities of a respiratory therapist include:

• Identifying lung and breathing disorders and recommending treatment methods;
• Interviewing patients and doing chest physical exams to determine what kind of therapy is best for their condition;
• Consulting with physicians to recommend a change in therapy, based on patient evaluation;
• Analyzing breath, tissue, and blood specimens to determine levels of oxygen and other gases;
• Managing ventilators and artificial airway devices for patients who can’t breathe normally on their own;
• Responding to Code Blue or other urgent calls for care;
• Educating patients and families about lung disease so they can maximize their recovery.

Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to receive an Associate of Science degree, and become eligible to sit for the national accreditation exams for the designation of the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and apply for state license as a respiratory therapist. The national examinations consist of the Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TCM) and the Clinical Simulation Examination(CSE) offered by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC).

Information on the exam process is available through the NBRC at www.nbrc.org.

Program Objectives

The following objectives are designed to meet Keiser University’s Respiratory Therapy Program’s mission and goals:

• To provide an environment in which students demonstrate ethical behaviors, critical thinking skills and a commitment to lifelong learning;
• Development of clinical skills, treatment techniques, understanding of methodology, and rationale for implementation and interpretation of diagnostics and cardio-respiratory care;
• To provide the students with an academic foundation to adequately fulfill the role of a respiratory care practitioner in a clinical setting.

Program Goals

• To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRT’s).

2023 Programmatic Outcomes Data:
Published by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care

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

Program Mission

The Respiratory Therapy program at Keiser University offers an associate of science degree that is designed to prepare students to become effective, knowledgeable, safe and competent respiratory therapy practitioners who will practice under the supervision and direction of a licensed physician.

Program Philosophy

Respiratory Therapy is a profession that serves a diverse population. The respiratory therapy practitioner plays an integral role in the delivery of respiratory therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physician.

The Respiratory Therapy curriculum integrates didactic, laboratory and clinical practicums, each of which plays a significant role in the education of the student.

The program:

1. Recognizes that communication and interaction skills play an integral role in the preparation of a student to become an advanced practitioner respiratory therapist
2. Recognizes that each student is an individual participant who brings a variety of needs and attributes to the educational process
3. Promotes diverse educational methodologies to create a rich learning environment for all students
4. Encourages both the faculty and the student to take responsibility for the learning environment, which requires cooperation and commitment from all individuals involved in the program
5. Recognizes that learning and assessment is a continuous process that is a necessary component of professional growth and development

Prerequisites for Major Courses

• Background check and drug screening;
• Completion of prerequisites BSC2085C and BSC2086C, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with a minimum of a “B” in each course;
• Completion of the following prerequisite courses: MCB2000C and CHEM2045/L and all general education coursework with a minimum grade of “C” for each course;
• Cumulative grade average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0.

Program Outline

To receive an Associate of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy, students must earn 76.0 credit hours. Each course in the Respiratory Therapy major is a prerequisite for the subsequent course and must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher in order to progress to the next course in the sequence. Students must complete all courses in the program core.

Requirements are as follows:

State Licensure Disclosure

• Click here for State Licensure Disclosure Information

Faculty Directory

Medical Director
Dr. Jeffrey Wolkowicz MD
[email protected]

Program Director
David Ferrett, MS, BSRT, RRT-ACCS, RPFT, AE-C
[email protected]

Director of Clinical Education
Oksana Milfort, MPH/MS.HSA, RRT
[email protected]

Faculty

Fitzwilliam Thompson, RRT, BHS
[email protected]

Tori Knoss, RRT, BS, BA
[email protected]

Estimated Student Costs

* Refer to undergraduate student catalog for specific tuition and program fees.

Equal Opportunity

Keiser University’s policy of equal opportunity, consistent with Federal policy, is that no person shall, on the grounds of race, creed, color, handicap, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status or belief, be excluded from any training, be denied the benefit of training or be subjected to discrimination in any hiring practice or activity of the University. To ensure continued success in achieving equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all of its programs and departments, Keiser University hereby reaffirms that it is the responsibility of all staff administration and supervisory personnel to work actively to ensure equal opportunities within their respective departments, as well as to demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to equal opportunity for all persons. Management and supervisory personnel have a responsibility to provide leadership and support for equal opportunity programs.

The program, #200571, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.