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.
Pre-course requirement paid for by student:
- National background check
- Titers demonstrating immunity to Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Varicella, Mumps, Measles, Rubella
- Two Tuberculosis tests within 3 months of course start
- Physical examination by a physician
- Background check and drug testing the first week of the course.
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
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.
Respiratory Therapy, AS (04957) and Certificate of Achievement (20544)
To be admitted to the Respiratory Therapy Program, a separate application must be submitted in addition to an application to the college. The annual deadline date for submitting applications to be considered for respiratory therapy is May 15. Applications can be obtained through the VVC Respiratory Therapy website.
Prerequisites: CHEM 100 Introductory Chemistry, BIOL 100 General Biology or BIOL 107 Introduction to Human Biology, and MATH 105 College Algebra must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher before entry into the program.
The Respiratory Therapy Faculty accepts and operates within the framework of the philosophy and objectives of Victor Valley College.
The Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy provides a foundation for continuing personal, professional and educational development, and includes the study of the arts, sciences and humanities. The program is designed to produce a competent, self-directed respiratory therapist who, in a variety of settings, can assume leadership in planning, providing, and evaluating respiratory care of individuals and groups; who participates in the determination of the goals of the profession; and who actively searches for knowledge in respiratory therapy and related fields essential to the development and application of scientific respiratory care.
The respiratory therapy graduate receives the Associate of Science Degree and is eligible to take the National Registry Exam for Respiratory Therapists and the entry-level exam for licensure in the State of California.
The certificate prepares the student to take the State examination to practice as an entry-level practitioner and the National Examination for Advanced level practitioner.
To earn this degree, complete the major coursework with “C” grades or better and all of the following graduation requirements: 60 minimum degree-applicable units (including a maximum 4 units of activity); 2.0 minimum overall GPA; 12 degree-applicable units through VVC; Information Competency; Global Citizenship; Kinesiology, and the VVC General Education pattern. Courses may count in one area only, either in the major or in a general education category. Courses counted in one AA/AS major may not be used in another AA/AS major.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 211 | Human Anatomy | 5.0 |
| BIOL 221 | General Microbiology | 5.0 |
| BIOL 231 | Human Physiology | 5.0 |
| MATH 105/105H | College Algebra | 4.0 |
| ENGL 101.0/101H | English Composition and Reading | 4.0 |
| PSYC 101 | Introductory Psychology | 3.0 |
| RSPT 50 | Polysomnography I | 4.0 |
| RSPT 221 | Basic Cardiopulmonary Clinical Practicum | 3.0 |
| RSPT 222 | Advance Cardiopulmonary Clinical Practicum and Case Studies | 3.0 |
| RSPT 230 | Introduction to Respiratory Therapy | 3.0 |
| RSPT 231 | Basic Fundamentals of Respiratory Therapy | 10.0 |
| RSPT 232 | Patient Assessment & Clinical Application of Respiratory Therapy | 10.0 |
| RSPT 233 | Intensive Respiratory Therapy Care | 13.0 |
| RSPT 234 | Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Care and Related Pathophysiology | 13.0 |
| RSPT 239 | Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation Support | 2.0 |
| RSPT 243 | Clinical Simulation | 1.0 |
| Complete one course from the following: | 3.0 | |
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Family Communication | ||
| Group Discussion | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Complete one course which fulfills the VVC General Education Category III Humanities area | 3.0 | |
| Complete one course which fulfills the VVC General Education Category IIB American Institutions area | 3.0 | |
| Complete one course which fulfills the Kinesiology competency | 1.0 | |
| Total Units | 98 | |
Respiratory Therapy Courses
Topics include sleep terminology, sleep structure and disorders, complete patient set-up and data acquisition. Students will also learn the basics of noninvasive treatments for certain sleep disorders.
Lecture Hours: 54.00; Lab Hours: 54.00
Transfer: Not transferable
Cooperative Education: This course is designed for students who are cross-training at their current worksite for upward mobility or possible career changes, as well as those looking for entry-level occupational training through work-based learning experiences. Students must have a co-op approved worksite to enroll in this class and establish new learning objectives. Please refer to the Cooperative Education section in the catalog for more information
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
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 231 or RSPT 90, Minimum grade C
Lab Hours: 162.00
Transfer: Not transferable
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: 162.00
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
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.
Lecture Hours: 54.00
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
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: 72.00; Lab Hours: 324.00
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
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: 72.00; Lab Hours: 324.00
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
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.
Prerequisite(s): RSPT 239 and BIOL 211 or BIOL 231, Minimum grade C
Lecture Hours: 72.00; Lab Hours: 486.00
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
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.
Prerequisite(s): RSPT 233 and BIOL 221, Minimum grade C
Lecture Hours: 72.00; Lab Hours: 54.00
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
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: 18.00; Lab Hours: 54.00
Transfer: Not transferable
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: 18.00
Transfer: Transfers to CSU only
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:
1. Demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, and evaluate clinical information relative to their role as an advanced-practiced therapist (Cognitive Domain)
2. Demonstrate the technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of Registered Respiratory Therapist (Psychomotor Domain).
3. Demonstrate behaviors consistent with professionalism and meet employer expectations for the Registered Respiratory Therapist (Affective Domain).