Department of Health Professions
Respiratory Care
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Respiratory Care is an allied health specialty. It is an important part of modern medicine and health care. Respiratory Care encompasses the care of patients with respiratory problems in the hospital, clinic and home.
Respiratory therapists, as members of a team of health care professionals, work to evaluate, treat, and manage patients of all ages with respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders in a wide variety of clinical settings. Respiratory therapists must behave in a manner consistent with the standards and ethics of all health care professionals.In addition to performing respiratory care procedures, respiratory therapists are involved in clinical decision-making such as patient evaluation, treatment selection, assessment of treatment efficacy, and patient education. The scope of practice for respiratory therapy includes, but is not limited to:
- acquiring and evaluating clinical data;
- assessing the cardiopulmonary status of patients;
- performing and assisting in the performance of prescribed diagnostic studies, such as drawing blood samples, performing blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, and electrocardiograms;
- utilizing data to assess the appropriateness of prescribed respiratory care;
- establishing therapeutic goals for patients with cardiopulmonary disease;
- participating in the development and modification of respiratory care plans;
- case management of patients with cardiopulmonary and related diseases;
- initiating ordered respiratory care, evaluating and monitoring patients’ responses to such care, modifying the prescribed respiratory therapy and cardiopulmonary procedures, and life support endeavors to achieve desired therapeutic objectives;
- initiating and conducting prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation;
- providing patient, family, and community education;
- promoting cardiopulmonary wellness, disease prevention, and disease management;
- participating in life support activities as required; and
- promoting evidence-based medicine; research; and clinical practice guidelines.
Starting salaries are competitive with premiums paid for evening, night and weekend shifts. Jobs are plentiful throughout the United States. Graduates are eligible to take the credentialing examinations administered by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) which lead to the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Application for licensure in the State of Montana and most other states includes successful completion of the NBRC Entry Level (CRT) examination
The Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970, Chicago, IL 60601, (312)553-9355. Graduates receive the degree of Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care.
Students entering the program are required to rotate to clinical sites outside the Missoula area on a periodic basis. These rotations will take place during spring semester, summer season and fall semester of the second year. The sites may include, but are not limited to, Kalispell, Butte, Bozeman, Polson, Ronan, Hamilton, Billings, Lewiston, Idaho and Spokane, Washington.
See additional program information. (Adobe Acrobat required)
| Length of Program: | 3 – 16 week semesters, 1 - 3 week winter session;1- 10 week summer session for a total of approximately 15.5 months. |
| Award Upon Graduation: | Associate of Applied Science Degree |
| Entry Times: | Fall Semester |
General Education Curriculum Program Entry Requirements
Students must prove competence with computer technology in one of the following three ways:
a. Acceptable transfer credit for CRT100
b. Passing challenge exam for CRT100
c. Take and pass CRT100
Program applicants must have a 2.75 grade point average, GPA, for the following general education courses and
must earn the minimum of a “B-“ in SCN201 and SCN202 or accepted transfer course for the same:
PSY 110S – Organizational Psychology, or PSY 100S, Introduction to Psychology
MAT 118 – College Algebra, or MAT 117 – Probability & Linear Math
SCN 201N – Anatomy & Physiolgy I
SCN 202N – Anatomy & Physiology II
WTS 115T – Technical Writing, or WTS 101 – English Composition
Contact Information
- Nick Arthur– Director of Respiratory Care
Email: nicholas.arthur@umontana.edu
Phone: 406-243-7836
- Enrollment Services / Admissions Office
Email: COTAdmissions@umontana.edu
Phone: 406-243-7882 / 800-542-6882
FAX: 406-243-7899