Respiratory therapy is an allied health profession specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients suffering from cardiopulmonary disease.
The program provides didactic instruction and supervised clinical practice in Southern California hospitals. Graduates of the VVC Respiratory Therapy Program, as a result of the education and training they receive, pass the state licensing and national registry exams at a rate much greater than the national average. The Victor Valley College Respiratory Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 264 Precision Blvd, Telford, TN 37690, (817) 283-2835.
A separate application must be made to the Respiratory Therapy Program. Seating is limited to a maximum of twenty-six students per class.
Applications are available from the VVC Respiratory Therapy website.
Program yearly requirements paid for by student:
- National background check
- Titers demonstrating immunity to Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Varicella, Mumps, Measles, and Rubella
- Two Tuberculosis tests yearly
- COVID-19 immunizations to include booster
- Physical examination by a physician
- Drug testing
Please contact the Respiratory Therapy program director for information and forms.
Career Opportunities
Respiratory Care Practitioner, Critical Care Specialist, Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Medical Transport, Diagnostic Testing Specialist, Home Care, Sleep Study Specialist, Wound Care, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Research, Management/Administration, Case Manager, Education,
Faculty
Cullin, Sean
Marin, Traci
Transfer
The Respiratory Therapy courses are UC and CSU transferable. There are several Colleges and Universities that offer Respiratory Care, BS to which the RSPT courses are transferable. For the most up-to-date information on these programs and others, stop by the Transfer Center in Building 23 or make an appointment with a counselor.
Program Learning Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are statements of the kind of learning a program hopes a student will achieve. The PLOs describe the knowledge, skills, problem-solving, communication, and values that apply to all certificates and/or degrees within that program.
The Victor Valley College Respiratory Program's overall goal is to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and effective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs). The goals are assessed in using program learning outcomes (PLO's)
Upon completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, and evaluate clinical information relative to their role as an advanced-practiced therapist (Cognitive Domain)
- Demonstrate the technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of Registered Respiratory Therapist (Psychomotor Domain).
- Demonstrate behaviors consistent with professionalism and meet employer expectations for the Registered Respiratory Therapist (Affective Domain).
- Prepare graduates with demonstrated advanced competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of advanced respiratory care practice as performed by case managers focused on cardiopulmonary disorders.
- Prepare graduates with demonstrated advanced competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of advanced respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
- Prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care through the acquisition of skills of advanced clinical practice, management, and education.
Respiratory Therapy Courses
RSPT 50 Polysomnography I (4.0 Units)
Topics include sleep terminology, sleep structure and disorders, complete polysomnography patient set-up and data acquisition. Students will also learn the basics of noninvasive treatments for certain sleep disorders.
Lecture Hours: 54.0; Lab Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Not transferable
RSPT 221 Basic Cardiopulmonary Clinical Practicum (3.0 Units)
Clinic-based practicum in which students perform a variety of cardiopulmonary assessments and therapies appropriate to their level in the respiratory therapy and echocardiography courses. Students present case studies based on patient-information gathering that include history and physical, review of systems, rationale for diagnostics and treatment, vital signs, medical history, questionnaire, scores, treatments, and study data. .
Prerequisite(s): RSPT 90 or RSPT 231, Minimum grade C
Lab Hours: 162.0
Transfer: Not transferable
RSPT 222 Advance Cardiopulmonary Clinical Practicum and Case Studies (3.0 Units)
Critical care clinic-based practicum in which students perform a variety of cardiopulmonary assessments and therapies. Students present case studies based on critical care patient-information gathering that include history and physical, review of systems, rationale for diagnostics and treatment, vital signs, medical history, questionnaire, scores, treatments, and study data. .
Prerequisite(s): RSPT 233, Minimum grade C
Lab Hours: 162.0
Transfer: Not transferable
RSPT 230 Introduction to Respiratory Therapy (3.0 Units)
Course introduces the student to respiratory therapy as a health science profession including history, professional requirements, responsibilities, professional organizations, and credentialing of the respiratory care practitioner. Provides basic anatomy and physiology, physics and math, and basic cardiopulmonary pathology to provide the student a foundation of theory and application. Offered summer. Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Respiratory Therapy Program.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
RSPT 231 Basic Fundamentals of Respiratory Therapy (10.0 Units)
This course introduces respiratory therapy students to basic physical assessment, infection control, clinical applications of basic therapeutic and diagnostic modalities, chart review and documentation. Students are provided with an extensive orientation to the hospital environment and administration of basic respiratory therapy to clients.
Prerequisite(s): RSPT 230, Minimum grade C
Lecture Hours: 72.0; Lab Hours: 324.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
RSPT 232 Patient Assessment & Clinical Application of Respiratory Therapy (10.0 Units)
This course expands the theory and application of respiratory therapy introduced in RSPT 230 and 231. Course content includes advanced cardiac life support and airway management, advanced assessment of cardiopulmonary pathology, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, home care, transport, patient education, medical ethics. Content also includes thorough discussion of labs, imaging, ECG, and pharmacology. The student will spend 24 hours per week in the hospital administering respiratory modalities. Offered Spring semester.
Prerequisite(s): RSPT 231, Minimum grade C
Lecture Hours: 72.0; Lab Hours: 324.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
RSPT 233 Intensive Respiratory Therapy Care (13.0 Units)
This course expands the theory and application of respiratory therapy introduced in RSPT 232. Content includes advanced modalities such as mechanical ventilation, systemic assessment of the intensive care patient, advanced cardiopulmonary physiology and pathology.
Lecture Hours: 72.0; Lab Hours: 486.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
RSPT 234 Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Care and Related Pathophysiology (13.0 Units)
This course is an advanced study of the theory and application of neonatal and pediatric respiratory care. The content will include: mechanical ventilatory support, advanced cardiopulmonary pathophysiology, equipment used in NICU and PICU, umbilical line and capillary blood sampling and analysis, endotracheal intubation, and principles of PALS and NRP.
Lecture Hours: 72.0; Lab Hours: 486.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
RSPT 239 Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation Support (2.0 Units)
This course introduces the principals of mechanical ventilation, allows hands-on experience with current ventilators, and reinforces therapeutic care.
Prerequisite(s): RSPT 232, Minimum grade C
Lecture Hours: 18.0; Lab Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Not transferable
RSPT 243 Clinical Simulation (1.0 Units)
This course will prepare individuals for the National Board of Respiratory Care's (NBRC) Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination (TMC) and Clinical Simulation examinations. Those already certified (Certified Respiratory Therapist) and designated registry eligible by the NBRC will be able to review, evaluate, and improve their clinical assessment, decision making, and test taking skills.
Prerequisite(s): RSPT 233, Minimum grade C or CRT/RCP credentials with "registry eligibility" as designated by the NBRC/RCB.
Lecture Hours: 18.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy Courses
BSRT 300 Critical Review of Healthcare (3.0 Units)
Research course in which students will learn and implement a strategic approach to identify credible medical research literature, analyze the research data, and author a review of the gathered material. Students will use medical journal citation formatting for drafting literature review papers with supporting citations of published research on each topic pertaining to healthcare research.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 301 Medical and Bioethics (3.0 Units)
This course offers an investigation and discussion of moral and ethical issues that can arise during critical illness and how practitioners navigate these issues. It also explores many of the controversial biomedical topics related to science and healthcare.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 302 Education and Teaching Strategies for Healthcare Professionals (3.0 Units)
Provides an analytical framework to teach adult learning theory and prepares the student to teach effectively in healthcare and classroom settings. Topics include learning styles, curriculum development, effective teaching techniques, and assessment of learning.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 303 Healthcare Leadership and Operations Man (3.0 Units)
Instruction of leadership and management theories for effective practices in the healthcare setting. The organizational structure of current healthcare models is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills in leadership, communication, time management, problem-solving, motivation, and other critical competencies. Specific attention is focused on the role of leadership, along with specific functions and operations, in a Healthcare Department. Using these skills, students will identify and apply strategic models to analyze problems, formulate solutions, and make sound decisions.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 304 Basic Research Methods and Statistics Fo (3.0 Units)
This course introduces the scientific method and basic statistics. The focus is on the development of a research question, statement of hypothesis, experimental design, data analysis using basic statistical tests, and presentation of data.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 305 Advanced Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology (3.0 Units)
This course presents advanced concepts of cardiopulmonary pathophysiology at the physiological and molecular levels. Case studies will be used to dissect how molecular aberrations result in physiological changes that correlate to signs and symptoms of acute and chronic cardiopulmonary disorders.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 306 Neurophysiology of Sleep-Wake Cycle and (3.0 Units)
This course presents advanced concepts of the sleep-wake cycle and control of breathing at the physiological and molecular levels. Discussions will include how physical and molecular aberrations result in physiological changes that correlate to signs and symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing and other forms of neurologically-induced ventilatory problems.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 307 Advanced Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics (3.0 Units)
This course dives deeper into cardiopulmonary diagnostics. Advanced diagnostics will be introduced using case studies to present a review of signs and symptoms and their physiological implications, etiologies, diagnostic techniques that aid in diagnosis, and interventions.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 308 Advanced Pharmacology (3.0 Units)
This course provides advanced knowledge of pharmacological molecular mechanisms and modalities related to cardiopulmonary disorders and common critical care scenarios. Learned information is applied to real-life case scenarios to emphasize how advanced knowledge aids in applying therapeutics and interventions more effectively while considering possible negative outcomes.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 401 Capstone I (3.0 Units)
The course provides an opportunity for students to engage in high-level inquiry that focuses on an area of specialization within health care. This course will focus on the student exploring topics they are interested in learning more about with the goal of producing a project that demonstrates review, research, formulation, and plan for implementation. The goal of the capstone project is to bridge the gap between theory and practice to improve a component of the chosen profession.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 402 Capstone II (3.0 Units)
The course expands on Capstone I with an emphasis on the development of the capstone project outline. The goals, purpose, and feasibility of each student's chosen project will be discussed and open for peer review.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 403 Capstone III (3.0 Units)
The course expands on Capstone II with an emphasis on the implementation of the capstone project plan. Milestones for each student's chosen project will be open for peer review and discussed each week.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 404 Capstone IV (3.0 Units)
The course expands on Capstone III with an emphasis on the finalization of the capstone project. Weekly milestones of each student's chosen project will be discussed and open for peer review. Students will present the final capstone project as a written and oral presentation.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 405 Case Management I (3.0 Units)
This course focuses on a systematic physiological assessment and application to basic case management concepts. Case studies will be used to explore physical assessment to aid in the implementation of case management theories, evidence-based decision-making, and standards of care.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 406 Case Management II (3.0 Units)
This course expands on Case Management I with an emphasis on biological sampling, radiological imaging, and cardiopulmonary function testing and interpretation as they aid in implementing case management theories, evidence-based decision-making, and standards of care.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 407 Case Management III (3.0 Units)
This course expands on Case Management I and II with an emphasis on the stages of the case management process including screening, assessing, stratifying risk, planning, implementing, follow-up, transitioning, communication, and evaluation. The essential domains of case management knowledge discussed include care delivery methods; reimbursement methods; psychosocial concepts and support systems; rehabilitation strategies; ethical and legal standards; as well as quality outcomes, evaluation, and measurement. Case studies will be used to apply the case management domains to real-life situations.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
BSRT 408 Case Management IV (3.0 Units)
This course expands on Case Management III with an emphasis on application. Students have the opportunity to shadow a case manager of their choice and bring their experience to weekly discussions. Weekly discussions will be used to reiterate the case study process as it applies to real-life scenarios.
Lecture Hours: 54.0
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only