Respiratory Care Therapy

About the Profession

The field of Respiratory care is an allied health profession that promotes health and improvement in the cardiopulmonary function of people with heart and lung abnormalities and disease. Newborn, pediatric, adult, and elderly patients are treated for a wide range of problems--infant respiratory distress syndrome, trauma, cardiopulmonary arrest, conditions brought on by shock, post-operative surgical complications, and respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.

The respiratory care practitioner is a member of the health-care team in medical centers, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient rehabilitation programs, physician offices, and in-home care. 

Many are involved in research and development of innovative care and equipment. They are effective communicators and compassionate caregivers possessing an awareness of cultural sensitivity and diversity. They have leadership roles in patient education, wellness intervention, and development of respiratory care plans. Respiratory care professionals apply critical thinking skills in cardiopulmonary diagnostics and patient assessment to optimize decision making and delivery of patient care. In a time of high technology, increasing growth of the elderly population, and increasing numbers of patients with asthma and chronic lung disease, there is a greater demand for educated, skilled respiratory care practitioners.

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. Graduates need better critical thinking and problem solving skills and stronger verbal and written communication skills as well as computer literacy.

Program Options

Loma Linda University School of Allied Health offers several program options in the field of Respiratory care.

• Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care An entry-level bachelor's degree is for those students entering without a previous respiratory care degree.
• Post-professional Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care The post-professional bachelor's degree is for practicing respiratory therapists with a previous AS degree in respiratory therapy who want to continue their education and obtain a bachelor of science in respiratory care.
• The Loma Linda University Saudi Campus offers a BS Degree in Respiratory Care and a Baccalaureate Certificate in Respiratory Care in compliance with the university catalog.  The respiratory care program in Saudi Arabia is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs  (CAAHEP) and graduates are eligible to sit for the entry level (CRT) and advanced respiratory care practitioner (RRT) exams of the  National Board for Respiratory Care. 
  
  For further information on the Saudi Program, contact the Director,
  Dr. Richard Nelson, Saudi Campus:  
  PO Box 94788, Riyadh, 11614   Saudi Arabia
  or e-mail us at:  askalliedhealth@llu.edu

• The National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC), provides nationally recognized creentialing examinations for graduates of accredited respiratory care programs. Those who successfully complete the entry-level examination receive the certified respiratory therapist (CRT) credential. Advanced practitioner examinations are required for the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) credential, neonatal-pediatric specialist certification (NPS), and certified (CPFT) and registered (RPFT) pulmonary function technologist. NBRC inquiries can be made to 18000 W. 105th Street, Olathe, KS 66061, telephone 913/895-4900; FAX 913/895-4650; or Web site http://www.nbrc.org.
• Respiratory care program accreditation is provided by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
• Programmatic Outcomes Data from the 2011 Annual Report of Current status is provided by CoARC.
  
  

Contact Us

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

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