 Respiratory Therapy is an Allied Health specialty involved with evaluation, treatment, management, diagnosis and preventive care of patients with cardiopulmonary problems.
The respiratory therapist is a life-support specialist. During emergency calls, which often indicate a life-and-death situation of cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest, respiratory therapists become responsible for life support of the patient through airway management, artificial ventilation, external massage and other sophisticated emergency support measures. Therapists must be efficient in many areas of specialized and therapeutic respiratory care, such as oxygen, humidification, aerosols, positive pressure breathing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, airway management, pulmonary function studies and blood gas analysis.
With the ever-increasing number of cardiopulmonary disorders and the advancement in respiratory therapy and specialty areas, job opportunities in this dynamic and challenging profession are rapidly expanding.
The program is run in close cooperation with clinical affiliates, including Maine Medical Center and Mercy Hospital in Portland; St. Mary's Regional Medical Center and Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston; Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford; and Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate cognitive behavior in the clinical setting consistent with a therapist-level Respiratory Care consistent with a therapist-level Respiratory Care Practitioner.
- Exhibit psychomotor skills in the clinical setting consistent with a therapist-level Respiratory Care Practitioner.
- Demonstrate attitudes and behaviors, in the clinical setting consistent with a therapist-level Respiratory Care Practitioner.
Curriculum
(Click here for full list of courses and descriptions)
| Course Number |
General Education Requirements |
Credits |
| BIOL-130 |
Anatomy & Physiology I |
3 |
| BIOL-131 |
Anatomy & Physiology I Lab |
1 |
| BIOL-135 |
Anatomy & Physiology II |
3 |
| BIOL-136 |
Anatomy and Physiology II Lab |
1 |
| BIOL-235 |
Pathophysiology |
3 |
| CHEM-104 |
Introduction to Chemistry for AHS with Lab |
4 |
| ENGL-100 |
English Composition |
3 |
| ENGL-115 |
Introduction to Literature |
3 |
| |
Arts and Humanities Elective |
3 |
| |
Mathematics Elective |
3 |
| |
Social Science Elective |
3 |
| |
Total Core Requirements |
30 |
| |
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| Course Number |
Academic Major Requirements |
Credits |
| RESP-100 |
Introduction to Respiratory Therapy/Patient Care |
2 |
| RESP-101 |
Gas, Humidity, and Aerosol Therapy with Lab |
4 |
| RESP-105 |
Pulmonary Assessment Technology with Lab |
3 |
| RESP-110 |
Airway Management with Lab |
3 |
| RESP-115 |
Applied Physics for Health Sciences |
2 |
| RESP-120 |
Cardiopulmonary-Renal Anatomy & Physiology |
3 |
| RESP-125 |
Clinical Practicum I |
3 |
| RESP-150 |
Microbiology for Patient Care |
2 |
| RESP-160 |
Pharmacology |
2 |
| RESP-170 |
Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation with Lab |
2 |
| RESP-175 |
Clinical Practicum II |
4 |
| RESP-200 |
Neonatology and Pediatrics |
3 |
| RESP-210 |
Cardiovascular Assessment |
3 |
| RESP-220 |
Clinical Application of Mechanical Ventilation with Lab |
3 |
| RESP-225 |
Clinical Practicum III |
4 |
| RESP-250 |
Critical Respiratory Care |
3 |
| RESP-275 |
Clinical Practicum IV |
6 |
| |
Total Credits Required For Degree |
82 |
Recommended High School Courses
Algebra
Biology
Due to a limited number of seats, applying as early as possible is strongly recommended. Visit www.smccME.edu for a complete list of requirements and prerequisites, and for full course descriptions.
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