Respiratory Care Advanced Practitioner - Bachelor of Science

Your BS degree can be obtained in as little as one year!

Please note: This degree is for Respiratory Therapists with a previous AS degree in Respiratory Therapy who would like to continue on in pursuit of their Bachelor of Science degree.  This degree program is tailored for the working professional.  Classes meet one day a week (Thursdays) on the LLU campus with additional online coursework. 

About the degree

Advances in respiratory medicine, technology, and changes in health care have created a need for better educated respiratory care practitioners with diverse abilities. Job analysis research by the National Board for Respiratory Care reveals that employers now expect higher skill levels from respiratory education program graduates.

The Advanced Practitioner-Bachelor of Science in respiratory care program seeks to graduate individuals with advanced knowledge and skills in the respiratory care profession including assessment, therapeutic interventions, and management of patients with cardiopulmonary related disorders. This one-year full-time program combines classroom learning with advanced specialty clinical experiences to achieve this goal.

Faculty

Our Respiratory Care Faculty have advanced degrees in education and the sciences and are the leaders in their areas of specialty. Most of our faculty have written chapters and/or authored textbooks in respiratory care.

Our Program Provides:

• Development of communication skills as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team, in patient education, and in community health and wellness.
• Scholarships to our students and assistance with pursuing student financial aid to help fund your respiratory care education.
• Professional skills necessary for rapid advancement in respiratory management, education, or as a clinician.
• Advanced knowledge and clinical skills to meet the demands requested of respiratory care practitioners.
• A strong foundation for graduate work in medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, and other programs in public health, science, education, or management.
• Advanced clinical experience in specialty areas of cardiopulmonary care.
• Fundamental skills to conduct and interpret research in the health care arena.
• Development of fundamental skills in leadership.
• To provide therapists to the respiratory care and medical communities who have advanced post-professional training in cardiopulmonary care and fundamental knowledge in the areas of leadership and education.
• To provide an undergraduate program for two-year-level respiratory therapists that enhances and broadens their knowledge in cardiopulmonary health care sciences and general studies and allows progression into graduate programs.

Upon completion of the program, the graduate should be qualified to:

1. Apply fundamental and advanced adult, pediatric, and neonatal respiratory care concepts and treatment plans in the area of pathophysiology, diagnostics and advanced interventions, gas exchange therapy, medical gas therapy, medical gas therapy, airway care, and ventilatory support systems (invasive and non-invasive).

2. Apply problem-solving skills in the areas of advanced pulmonary physiology, related diagnostics, and comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

3. Perform fundamental and advanced patient assessment and diagnostic skills for various cardiopulmonary diseases.

4. Develop fundamental skills to conduct and interpret research in the health care arena.

5. Develop fundamental skills in leadership.

6. Develop fundamental skills in topic presentation to the health care profession and patient care community using appropriate lecture and demonstration techniques.

7. Develop advanced practitioner competency in specialty cardiopulmonary care areas of the student's choice (subject to availability).

8. Enter graduate-level programs.

Program Information

• Adv. Practitioner Program Brochure
• Admissions Info/ Online Application
• Tuition costs
• Entry Level Program

Requirements/Prerequisites

Previous college courses and a respiratory care associate's degree are required to be eligible for this program.

Adv. Practitioner Respiratory Care Prerequisites (PDF)

University Catalog

Contact us

To set up an advising appointment or to ask questions regarding respiratory care, email our office at studycardio@llu.edu or call (909) 558-4932.

Loma Linda University
Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences
Nichol Hall Room 1926
Loma Linda CA 92350

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