2. RESPIRATORY CARE A Great Career That Makes A Difference

3. What is Respiratory Care? A health profession that specializes in the evaluation, treatment, education and rehabilitation of patients with lung and heart disease, under the direction of a physician Requires the application of scientific principles to promote optimum cardiopulmonary function and health

4. Be In Demand As a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), you will be in one of the fastest-growing, most desirable jobs available The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics shows demand for respiratory practitioners is expected to grow by more than 42% between 1998 –2008 Family Money Magazine lists Respiratory Care among the top 50 careers for the 21 st century (Jan/Feb 2000, p.52)

5. Why The Increase in Demand? Increasing numbers of patients with asthma and chronic lung disease Technological advances in treatment of heart attack, cancer, and accident victims Smoking and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Advances in treatment of premature babies Rising numbers in the elderly population

6. Where Will I Work? Most RCPs work in hospitals where they perform intensive care, critical care, neonatal and diagnostic procedures Increasingly, RCPs are vital to the hospital’s lifesaving emergency response teams Other opportunities exist in nursing homes, home health care agencies, outpatient clinics, physician offices, and educational facilities

7. Who Will I Care For? RCPs are often responsible for the care of critically ill patients requiring life support Common breathing disorders include asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, chest trauma, and heart disease

8. Patients’ ages range from newborns to the elderly Who Will I Care For?

9. Nature of the Work As a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), you will evaluate patients’: Lung function and capacity via pulmonary function studies Levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases in blood samples via highly sophisticated electronic devices Cardiopulmonary status via diagnostic stress, sleep, and exercise studies EKGs and cardiac tests

10. Nature of the Work As an RCP, you will treat patients by: Administering oxygen and other therapeutic gases Managing medication Mechanical ventilation Resuscitation techniques Providing chest and lung therapies Monitoring equipment and patient responses to therapies

11. Nature of the Work As an RCP, you will rehabilitate patients by: Conducting low-impact aerobic exercise classes to help those who suffer from chronic lung problems Participating as a team in Cardio- pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs Working in home care for ongoing pulmonary care

12. Nature of the Work As an RCP, you will educate patients by: Conducting smoking cessation programs for both hospital patients and others in the community Participating in asthma screening, reinforcing prescribed medication regimes and teaching preventative measures Continually providing patients with the latest theory on disease management

13. Career Potential Respiratory Care Practitioner (Level 1-4) Pulmonary Function Technologist Neonatal/Pediatric Therapist Respiratory Care Educator Pulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist Sleep Disorder Therapist Home Care Therapist Respiratory Care Manager Respiratory Care Supervisor

14. Future Opportunities After obtaining CRT status, graduates qualify to take the NBRC Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exam Advanced credentials in specialties such as pulmonary function (CPFT and RPFT), perinatal/pediatrics and sleep disorders are available with on the job training

15. Why Choose the Respiratory Care Program at NWTC? Provides advanced respiratory therapy training based upon national standards provided by the matrix of the NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) CAAHEP-accredited program (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) CoARC-accredited program (Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care)

16. Respiratory Care Program at NWTC Upon completion of your training, you will be: Awarded an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree for Respiratory Care Eligible to obtain a license in the state of your choice Eligible to take the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Credentialing Examinations, which upon passing, leads to the credential Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)

17. Requirements For Program Entry NWTC requires an entrance skill inventory for all program applicants Minimum standard composite score of 20 on the ACT assessment High school diploma or equivalent High school Algebra with a “C” or better (or attain program benchmark on skills test) One year of biology AND one year Chemistry with a grade of “C” or better One year of physics or advanced math with “C” or better

18. Complete an interview or orientation A medical examination satisfactorily completed within three months before entering the program All students are required to complete an American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR course, and maintain a current CPR card to comply with affiliating agency requirements Requirements For Program Entry

19. Desirable Personal Attributes of a Respiratory Care Practitioner Desire to help others by working in the health care system Mechanically inclined Good interpersonal communication skills Capable of working well under stress Interested in working as part of a team Sensitive to patients’ physical and psychological needs Have basic computer skills Non-smoker

20. Core Courses Respiratory Therapy Survey Respiratory Therapeutics 1 Respiratory Pharmacology Respiratory & Circulatory Physiology Respiratory Therapeutics 2 Respiratory Diseases Respiratory Life Support Technology

21. Core Courses Respiratory & Circulatory Diagnostics and Monitoring Respiratory Neonatal/Pediatric Care Clinical Simulation Review 1 Clinical Simulation Review 2 Respiratory Therapy Clinical Practice 1-5

22. What Makes NWTC’s Respiratory Care Program Unique? Progressive Leadership New Health and Safety expansion project to meet the growing needs of the community Clinical affiliates nationally recognized for quality in health care

23. State of the Art Equipment State of the art equipment including the Human Patient Simulator where real life situations are simulated in the lab

24. Human Patient Simulator Practice real life situations in the lab setting with a programmable manikin designed to simulate real disease states for any particular situation.

25. NWTC RCP Students have access to Dedicated effective faculty who genuinely care about the students Low tuition and fees Financial aid and scholarships Counseling and career placement Up to date Learning Resource Center Computer and internet research

26. NWTC RCP Students work with specialty physicians Neonatologists Cardiologists Pulmonologists Critical Care Specialists Anesthesiologists Emergency Room Physicians Allergists Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons General Surgeons Internists Primary Care Physicians

27. NWTC RCP Students Access a wide variety of clinical experiences provided by some of the most highly skilled affiliates in the country St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay Bellin Health, Green Bay St. Mary’s Hospital, Green Bay Theda Care, Neenah Appleton Medical Center, Appleton St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee St. Luke’s Hospital, Milwaukee Aurora BayCare, Green Bay Froedtert, Milwaukee

28. NWTC Graduate Survey Indicates Respiratory Care Practitioner graduates: have a 99% pass rate on the NBRC entry level exam 100% job placement in their chosen field 2005 entry level pay approximately $17.00 per hour plus shift differential many employers offer tuition reimbursement or sign on bonus

29. NWTC Employers’ Survey Indicates that new graduates: meet or exceed their expectations for hire are clinically sound have the knowledge to think critically in the clinical setting are service-oriented health care providers

30. NWTC Graduates Are provided with an exciting, rewarding career in Respiratory Care

31. Is Respiratory Care for Me? YES! If YOU want: –the ability to make a difference in people’s lives –a rewarding career with a good salary –the opportunity to help others –recognition and appreciation –a sense of accomplishment as a respected member of the health professions –a role in decision-making –job security –job flexibility

32. AARC Guide to Professionalism AARC video in PowerPointAARC video in PowerPoint, which will help you learn more about the roles and expectations of your performance on the job and beyond Statement of Ethics and Professional Conduct Role Model Statement Position Statement of Diversity

33. Respiratory Care Professional Organizations American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) web site that includes career information and a downloadable video on the professionvideo Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) web site that includes a complete list of all accredited respiratory therapy educational programs National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC) National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC) voluntary health certifying board that evaluates the professional competence of respiratory therapists

34. For More Information Contact … –Kathy Schlitz, BA, RRT, CPFT, AE-C NWTC RCP Program Director 2740 West Mason Street PO Box 19042 Green Bay, WI 54307-9042 (920) 498-5533 katherine.schlitz@nwtc.edu

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