The Respiratory Therapy Program at St. Louis College of Health Careers is 22 months in length. The program emphasizes and fosters those qualities and traits that prepare the student for a successful health care career as a Respiratory Therapist. In addition to teaching technical skills and competencies, interpersonal communication and interaction with all levels of health care professionals and patients is emphasized. The program consists of sequential classroom, laboratory and clinical learning activities designed to systematically educate, train and develop Respiratory Care Professionals who possess the knowledge, skills, attitudes, professional behaviors, characteristics and qualities to prepare our graduates for successful and rewarding careers as health care professionals.
Respiratory Therapists, also known as Respiratory Care Practitioners, evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. They work with all ages of patients from premature infants to the very elderly. Practicing under the direction of a physician, respiratory therapists assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and cardiopulmonary diagnostic tests and consult with physicians and other health care professionals to develop, monitor and modify patient care plans. Respiratory therapists work with high-tech equipment. They care for patients on life support systems in intensive-care units where they initiate and manage mechanical ventilation. There are numerous specialty areas of practice that a Respiratory Therapist may pursue including polysomnography (sleep study), pediatric and/or neonatal respiratory care, pulmonary function testing, asthma education, geriatric care, as well as medical product sales and marketing, and health care management/administration.
Respiratory Therapists are employed by adult and pediatric hospitals, rehabilitation centers, physician offices, pulmonary function laboratories, home medical care companies, ground and air medical ambulance transport services, sleep-study centers, and neonatal intensive care units. Additional opportunities include education, health care management, medical product sales and marketing, and research.
Graduates may challenge the board examination series administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist (R.R.T.) credential.
Please accept this invitation to learn more about training for an exciting and rewarding professional career as a Respiratory Therapist. Please call 636-529-0000 to schedule an informational meeting. We want to give you a complimentary DVD that describes and explains the Respiratory Therapy profession. Don’t delay….Enrollment is limited. Classes are now being scheduled.
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