Respiratory Care, AS

The goal of the two-year Associate of Science Degree Program in Respiratory Care is to prepare students to be competent advanced-level respiratory therapists. Students desiring admission to the Respiratory Care Program must first meet general University admission requirements and be provisionally accepted for admission to the University. Students must subsequently make separate application to the Division of Health Sciences, Business & Technology, and Public Protection and Safety to be considered for admission to the Respiratory Care Degree Program.

For additional information, please see the Respiratory Care Student Handbook.

Program Mission and Goals

Mission
The Associate of Science in Respiratory Care is dedicated to providing a well-rounded education, based on high standards, principles, and values. The Respiratory Care Program promotes leadership, professionalism, critical thinking skills and continued education while stimulating intellectual inquiry and creativity of students to their highest potential. Our mission includes preparing graduates to enter the workforce as registry-eligible therapists with the ability to be productive health care professionals in a culturally diverse society by contributing to their profession and dedicating themselves to life-long learning.

Goals:

1. To prepare graduates to enter the workforce as registry-eligible therapists who meet employer expectations with respect to their knowledge, skills, and behavior.
2. To provide students with the highest quality education through didactic, laboratory, and clinical instruction with emphasis on the psychomotor, affective, and cognitive learning domains.
3. To provide employers highly knowledgeable, registry-eligible respiratory therapists who are able to adapt well in the working environment and prove themselves dependable, ethical, and competent.

Selection into the A.S. in Respiratory Care

The Division of Health Sciences, Business & Technology, and Public Protection and Safety will admit classes into the Respiratory Care program in the fall semester of each year.  Selection decisions for the fall class are made at the end of the prior summer semester.  Courses taken during the summer semester will be considered during the selection process.  Selection decisions will normally be made and communicated to students by the second week of August.  Though students not selected may reapply for admission to a subsequent class, such students must complete the entire application process and will remain subject to the eligibility requirements specified above.

Requirements for Admission

The first year of the respiratory care curriculum is composed of basic academic courses which are open to all students meeting the general University requirements for admission. Enrollment in first-year courses does not ensure a student’s acceptance into the second year of the respiratory care curriculum.

Admission to the second (clinical) year of the program is on a selective basis. Selection recommendations are made by the Division of Health Sciences, Business & Technology, and Public Protection and Safety Selection Committee to the Dean. The number of students selected each year (maximum of 25 students) will depend upon a number of factors, including the financial, personnel, and other resources available to the Respiratory Care Program. To be considered for selection, an applicant must:

1. Meet the general admission requirements of the University and be fully admitted as a student of LSU Eunice.
2. Submit to the Division of Health Sciences, Business & Technology, and Public Protection and Safety a completed Respiratory Care Selection Application Form accompanied by all required documents. These materials must be received no later than March 1 of the year for which selection is being sought.  However, if you are a transfer student or will be completing prerequisites in the summer we will accept your application up until August 1^st.
3. Must have a minimum grade of “C” in all prerequisite courses by the end of summer, when selection takes place. Calculation of GPA for first-year courses will be based upon the last grade earned in each course.
4. Have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher in all college work attempted, excluding any work previously forfeited by a declaration of academic bankruptcy.
5. All applicants are required to complete an entrance examination.  Information regarding this exam may be obtained by contacting the Division of Health Sciences, Business & Technology, and Public Protection and Safety at 337-550-1357.  
6. All applicants are required to participate in an Application Interview with the Program Director and RC faculty.  Information on how to make an appointment may be obtained by contacting the Division of Health Sciences, Business & Technology, and Public Protection and Safety at 337-550-1357.
7. Transcripts from all previously attended universities or colleges must be submitted to and evaluated by the Office of Admissions and the student classified as fully admitted prior to submitting an application to the Respiratory Care Program.
8. Be able to perform the physical and mental requirements of the discipline of Respiratory Care as identified on the Health and Physical Examination form and the ADA requirements in the Student Orientation Handbook.
9. Complete forms and submit fees for additional background investigations required by several healthcare facilities and receive a negative drug screen report.
10. Attend a mandatory programmatic orientation in July of application period.
11. Upon acceptance by the applicant to enter the LSU Eunice Respiratory Care program, the student accepts and agrees to abide by all published University, Division, and Program policies regarding student conduct and academic standing.

Eligible applicants will be considered on a competitive basis. The Selection Committee will consider all relevant aspects of eligible applicants’ credentials and make recommendations based upon the relative merits of each candidate.
The following variables will be considered:

• Grade-point average in prerequisite courses (39 hours).
• Licensure/certification in a healthcare profession.
• Overall academic record.
• Composite score of entrance exam.
• Composite score of Interview process.

The Division of Health Sciences and Business Technology will admit classes into the Respiratory Care Clinical Program in the fall semester of each year. Selection decisions will be made and communicated to students by the second week in August. Though students not selected may reapply for admission to a subsequent class, such students must complete the entire application process and will remain subject to the eligibility requirements specified above. Career counseling will be provided to students desiring this service.

Acceptance into the LSU Eunice Respiratory Care Clinical Program’s entitles the student to progress through the second year of the respiratory care curriculum along with the class to which he or she is admitted. A student will be considered to progress with his or her class as long as continuous enrollment at LSU Eunice is maintained and all required respiratory care courses are completed in uninterrupted sequence with a grade of “C” or better. Failure to progress with one’s class, for either academic or other reasons, will require that the student apply for admission to a subsequent class.

Retention/Progression Policy

Acceptance into the LSU Eunice Respiratory Care Program entitles the student to progress through the Respiratory Care curriculum along with the class to which he or she is admitted. In order for a student to be retained and progress in the curriculum, a student must:

1. Maintain an LSU and an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2. Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all required respiratory care courses.
3. Complete all RC courses with a grade of “C” or better. The grading scale for all respiratory care courses is: A - 93-100; B - 85–92; C- 77–84; D – 65-76; F – below 65.
4. Maintain current CPR certification (CPR for Health Care Providers) and annual TB testing.
5. Maintain health/immunization requirements.

 

All students will begin in the first fall semester and must follow in the respiratory care curriculum.  A student will be considered for re-entry only when there is clear evidence of his or her potential to complete the requirements of the respiratory care curriculum (Please refer to requirements for admission). In reviewing such applications, special scrutiny will be given to (1) availability into the program, (2) overall grade-point average, (3) successful passing of a respiratory care cognitive and psychomotor aptitude assessment, (4) grades earned in the behavioral, biological, and physical sciences, (5) repeating the previous clinical course (s).  The overall financial and personnel resources available to the Respiratory Care Program will also be a consideration in readmission decisions.

 

Dismissal Policy    

The LSU Eunice Respiratory Care Program carries the responsibility for administering health care with a commitment to protect the patient from injury or harm. It is the responsibility of the respiratory care faculty to provide safe and appropriate professional health care to all patients. The student may be dismissed from his or her clinical duties if in the professional judgment of the respiratory care faculty that the patient’s emotional and/or physical well-being is, or may be, jeopardized by the student’s incompetence and/or negligence.

 

The respiratory faculty must document the dismissal on the student’s bi-weekly evaluation form. Documentation must clearly and thoroughly state the reason for the student’s dismissal from their clinical duties.

Students may be dismissed from a respiratory course and/or the respiratory program for any of the following reasons:

 

1. A deliberate attempt to cover up any error or negligent performance during clinical experiences.

2. Documented repetitive performance of unsafe behaviors during clinical experiences.

3. Performance of unethical or illegal behaviors during clinical experiences. (See Program Student Handbook for details regarding unethical behavior)

4. Breach of patient or agency confidentiality by inappropriate management of information in any form.

5. Cheating or plagiarism. (See LSU Eunice Code of Student Conduct located in Student Handbook).

6. Violations of the LSU Eunice Code of Student Conduct.

7. Failure to follow the guidelines of the Program’s Professional Conduct Policy

8. Failure to agree and abide by the Program’s Ethics and Confidentiality Policy

9. Any dismissal of a student from a clinical facility may result in dismissal from the Respiratory Care Program upon further review.

10. A positive report on any random or scheduled drug screen

11. Committing a breach in the Respiratory Care program policy on the conduct of social media usage

12. Earning a grade of “D”, “F”, or “W” in more than one Respiratory Care course

 

If a student wishes to challenge the dismissal from the program, the “due process” appeal option would be to follow LSU Eunice PS. No 8. (Appeals Procedure Available to Students).

Requirements for Readmission

A student whose enrollment is interrupted, either voluntarily or by compulsion, or who fails to earn a grade of “C” in a required respiratory care course may be considered for readmission to the Respiratory Care Program provided that the student is in good academic standing as defined in the “University Regulations” section of this catalog.  A student will not be considered for readmission when the student has earned more than one “D,” “F,” or “W” in required respiratory courses.  However, under certain unforeseen circumstances, if the student withdrew from the program, the Health Sciences, Business & Technology, and Public Protection and Safety Selection Committee may review an application for re-entry.

Persons wishing to re-enter the LSU Eunice Respiratory Care Program must make written application to the Division of Health Sciences, Business & Technology, and Public Protection and Safety by June 15 for re-entry in the fall clinical semester. No application will be considered for the summer semester or last clinical semester. All re-entry students will begin in the first fall semester and must follow in the respiratory care curriculum. A student will be considered for re-entry only when there is clear evidence of his or her potential to complete the requirements of the respiratory care curriculum. In reviewing such applications, special scrutiny will be given to (1) availability in the program, (2) overall grade-point average, (3) successful passing of a respiratory care cognitive and psychomotor aptitude assessment, (4) grades earned in the behavioral, biological, and physical sciences, (5) repeating the previous clinical course (s). (Refer to the clinical manual for specific details.) The overall financial and personnel resources available to the Respiratory Care Program will also be a consideration in readmission decisions.

Transfer Respiratory Care Students

Students who wish to transfer with respiratory care credits are subject to the “Requirements for Readmission” specified above. Respiratory care transfer credits will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Special Provisions and Requirements

In addition to meeting all other specified curricular requirements, respiratory care students must: (1) meet immunization and physical examination requirements; (2) prior to entering a clinical facility, submit to a Level 1 criminal background check which investigates Social Security number verification, criminal activity, employment verification to include reason for separation and eligibility for reemployment for each employer, confirms the individual is not on either the General Services Administration (GSA) or Office of Inspector General (OIG) exclusion lists, confirms the individual is not listed as a Violent Sexual Offender and Predator Registry Search, confirms the individual is not on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control list of Specially Designation Nationals and no other aspect of the investigation reveals information of concern; (3) upon successful completion of the program, submit to the LSBME (Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners) a criminal background check that will be forwarded to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DOC) and to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI); (4) maintain CPR Certification (CPR for Healthcare Providers) and immunizations for the duration of their program; (5) assume responsibility for providing their own transportation to and from clinical agencies; (6) a negative drug screen must be submitted prior to final acceptance into the program.

Degree Requirements

In addition to fulfilling the “General Degree Requirements” specified in this catalog for all associate degree candidates, respiratory care students must complete all required respiratory care courses with a grade of “C” or better. The last grade earned in a “repeated” course will be considered the grade of record for purposes of applying these requirements.

Graduates of the program are awarded the Degree of Associate of Science in Respiratory Care. After successful completion of this curriculum, the graduate will be eligible to petition the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) examination for recognition as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). After fulfilling specific requirements established by the National Board of Respiratory Care (www.nbrc.org), graduates may also become eligible to petition the national examination to be credentialed as a Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT). Persons interested in such credentialing may obtain further information from the director of the Respiratory Care Program.

The LSU Eunice Respiratory Care Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com). The CoARC program number is 200570.  The program accreditation status is currently deemed as Continuing Accreditation.  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 - https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/. Inquiries regarding accreditation should be directed to: CoARC, 264 Precision Blvd. Telford, TN 37690; telephone 1-817-283-2835.