Program Goals
To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs). -CoARC 2022 Entry into Practice Standards
Program Goals: “To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
-CoARC 2022 Entry into Practice Standards
Program Goals: “To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).”
-CoARC 2022 Entry into Practice Standards
1. Cognitive Skills: Students must demonstrate competence in the cognitive domain by achieving a minimum score of 75% or higher in all respiratory care courses throughout the program, reflecting their foundational knowledge and understanding of respiratory care principles.
2. Psychomotor Skills: The following is a list of competencies integrated into the respiratory care program curriculum. Prior to graduation, students are required to demonstrate proficiency in each of these skills, ensuring readiness for entry-level practice in the profession.
- a. Hand Hygiene and Isolation Precautions
- b. Taking Vital Signs
- c. Performing a Comprehensive Cardiopulmonary Patient Assessment
- d. Using a Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhaler (pMDI)
- e. Using a Dry-Powder Inhaler (DPI)
- f. Using a Small Volume Nebulizer (SVN)
- g. Performing Incentive Spirometry (IS)
- h. Implementing Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) Therapy
- i. Administering Chest Physiotherapy (CPT)
- j. Performing Sterile Nasotracheal Suctioning
- k. Sputum Inductions & Collecting Sputum Samples
- l. Administering Oxygen Therapy with a Nasal Cannula or Mask
- m. Performing an Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Puncture
- n. Providing Manual Ventilation using a Bag-Valve Mask (BVM)
- o. Administering Oxygen Therapy to a Patient with an Artificial Airway
- p. Tracheostomy Tube Care and Cleaning
- q. Administering High Flow Oxygen Therapy
- r. Initiating Noninvasive Ventilation and Interface Fitting
- s. Assessing a Noninvasive Ventilator
- t. Preparing an Invasive Mechanical Ventilator for Use
- u. Intubation or Intubation Assist
- v. Initiation of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation
- w. Assessing an Invasive Mechanical Ventilator
- x. Endotracheal Tube Care
- y. Monitoring Cuff Pressures
- z. Performing Sterile Endotracheal or Tracheal Tube Suctioning
- aa. Monitoring End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide (EtCO2)
- bb. Assessing Weaning Parameters and Performing a Spontaneous Breathing Trial (SBT)
- cc. Extubation
- dd. Obtaining Arterial Blood Gas Samples from an Arterial Catheter Line
- ee. Assessing Noninvasive Respiratory Mechanics
3. Affective Skills: Students must demonstrate competence in the affective domain by consistently exhibiting professionalism, ethical behavior, and integrity in all aspects of respiratory care practice. This includes successful completion of clinical evaluations and self-assessments, reflecting appropriate attitudes, values, and interpersonal communication skills essential to the profession.
Program Outcomes
CoARC accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an ‘outcomes based’ process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented.
Programmatic Outcomes Data