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The respiratory program is designed for a 3 year completion once students begin in the respiratory curriculum.  The program blends classroom, lab and clinical instruction to prepare work place ready students for careers in respiratory therapy.  The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy provides students with the knowledge and hands on experiences to begin careers in the field. 

To enter the respiratory therapy program students must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above
  • Have completed the general education curricula
  • Have completed Introduction to Chemistry and Microbiology for Health professionals with a C or better

The Respiratory Therapy program is under review for accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), program number 200688. 

www.coarc.com

Bluefield State University is currently in the process of seeking CoARC accreditation for a respiratory care program. Please note, Bluefield State University can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the CoARC. 

Respiratory Therapy, B.S. Degree Requirements

All graduating students are required to complete the general studies program specific to their degree level. This program is composed of a basic skills component and a core skills component in addition to the stipulated course requirements for specific programs as listed in this catalog. The purpose of the general studies program is to ensure basic skills competency and encourage the acquisition of a body of knowledge basic to that of an educated person.

The University has identified and adopted the following learning outcomes, which should be demonstrated by all graduates upon completion of any academic program.

  1. Communication: Students will communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  2. Information Literacy: Students will select appropriate resources, prioritize information in terms of relevance and reliability, question and evaluate the complexity of the information environment, and use information in an ethical manner.
  3. Technology Literacy: Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to use appropriate technology for communicating, problem solving, and decision-making.
  4. Mathematical Literacy: Students will use mathematical problem-solving skills to investigate, model, and solve real-world problems at an appropriate level.
  5. Social, Artistic, and Cultural Literacy: Students will analyze and compare diverse social and cultural patterns, texts and performances and will evaluate them from a global perspective.
  6. Scientific Literacy: Students will understand and apply scientific concepts and develop science inquiry and research skills.
  7. Critical and Ethical Reasoning: Students will interpret, analyze, and construct ethical arguments.
  8. Wellness: Students will be able to apply skills necessary to maintain physical and mental wellness.

Mission Statement

To provide an affordable, quality educational program in a nurturing environment for the Respiratory Therapy student with the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for success as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.

Philosophy

The profession of Respiratory Therapy involves the art and science of caring. It encompasses the provision and promotion of safe, patient-centered care throughout the lifespan. Respiratory Therapy is provided in collaboration with the patient, family and members of the interdisciplinary team while incorporating informatics into the community and contemporary healthcare settings. The Respiratory Therapy process is the organizing framework that integrates the identification of human needs and provides therapeutic interventions based on clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice. The Respiratory Therapist monitors patient outcomes for quality and safety improvements of health care systems.

Programmatic Objectives:

Patient-Centered Care

Recognize the patient or designee as the source of control and full partner in providing compassionate and coordinated care based on Respiratory Therapy Practice Standards, the patient’s preferences, values, and needs.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Function effectively within Respiratory Therapy and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.

Evidenced-Based Practice

Integrate best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient/family preferences and values for delivery of optimal health care.

Quality Improvement

Use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and use improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of health care systems.

Safety

Minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.

Informatics

Use information and technology skills are essential for safe patient care.

Human Flourishing

Advocate for patients and families in ways that promote their self-determination, integrity, and ongoing growth as human beings.

Respiratory Therapy Judgment

Make judgments in practice, substantiated with evidence, that integrate Respiratory Therapy science in the provision of safe, quality care and that promote the health of patients within a family and community context.

Professional Identity

Implement one’s role as a Respiratory Therapist (RT)in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving identity as an RT committed to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and safety. Quality care for diverse patients within a family and community context

Spirit of Inquiry

Examine the evidence that underlies clinical Respiratory Therapy practice to challenge the status quo, question underlying assumptions, and offer new insights to improve the quality of care for patients, families, and communities.

Respiratory Therapy Process

A systematic decision-making method focusing on identifying and treating responses of individuals or groups to actual or potential alterations of health.

Clinical Reasoning

The process by which Respiratory Therapist collect and process information, come to the understanding of a patient’s or group’s problem or situation, plan and implement interventions, evaluate outcomes, and reflect on and learn from the process.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) are derived from the program’s philosophy and the organizing framework. The philosophy of the Respiratory Therapy program is based on the CoARC guidelines for Accreditation, core values, integrated concepts and competencies for graduates including human flourishing, Respiratory These include safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity and physiological integrity.

  1. At the completion of the Respiratory Therapy Program, the graduate will be prepared to:
  2. Utilize evidenced based Respiratory Therapy interventions to assist the individual, family and community in health promotion and physiological and psychosocial adaptation across the lifespan.
  3. Support a caring environment that Respiratory Therapists the diversity of the individual, family and community’s values, customs, spiritual beliefs and culture.
  4. Collaborate and communicate effectively within multidisciplinary teams to achieve safe and quality client care in diverse environments.
  5. Manage patient care technology and utilize information management systems while delivering Respiratory Care across the lifespan.
  6. Utilize principles of quality improvement to monitor psychological and psychosocial outcomes of client care.

Composition (6 Credit Hours)

Mathematics (3 Credit Hours)

Technology Literacy (3 Credit Hours)

Communication (3 Credit Hours)

Humanities

Psychology

Sociology

Health & Wellness (2 Credit Hours)

Physical and Biological Sciences (8 Credit Hours)

(Must include laboratory courses)

Biology

General Education Total Credit Hours: 34

Additional courses required prior to program acceptance:

Respiratory Therapy Courses: (Admission to the RT Program is Required)

Semester – 1 (14 Credits) Fall term

Semester – 2 (15 Credits) Spring term

Semester – 3 (10) Credits) 10 week summer

Semester- 4 (15 Credits) Fall term

Semester- 5 (15 Credits) Spring term

Semester- 6 (12 Credits) summer 10 week

Total Program Credit Hours: 121

Academic Transfers

It is the policy of Bluefield State University that the transfer credits completed will be consistent with appropriate and legitimate academic program integrity. Undergraduate-level credits and grades earned at other public institutions in West Virginia shall generally be transferable to Bluefield State University. Use of grades for institutional purposes, such as, without limitation, criteria for academic probation, recognition for graduation with honors or other institutional purposes, shall be subject to the policy of Bluefield State University.

Bluefield State University shall use a 70 percent criterion to allow the fulfillment of programmatic and degree requirements. That is, if 70 percent of the learning objectives are similarly aligned, then Bluefield State University will accept the course. However, where it is determined that 70% of the learning objectives do not equate to a full course equivalency Bluefield State University assumes the responsibility to demonstrate the 70% alignment is not sufficient for transfer credit. Therefore, in an effort to assist in this determination, it is expected that every course at the institution will identify the institutional, programmatic, and course learning objectives as appropriate. Bluefield State University will accept at least 60 and no more than 72 hours of credits and grades completed at public community and technical colleges or regional campuses in West Virginia. Exceptions to the 72 hour transfer limit may be made by the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs.