1	Respiratory Care A Life and Breath Career for You!
2	Respiratory Care...Makes a Difference At 9:32 am, Lori Moreno brought a newborn baby struggling to breathe back to life… Lori is a recent graduate of a respiratory care educational program. Programs like the one Lori attended are available at colleges and universities throughout the U.S.
3	Respiratory Care… a Life and Breath Career for You! You can live without food for a week, without water for a day, but you cannot live without air for more than a few minutes. Most people take breathing for granted. For thousands of people who suffer from breathing problems, each breath is an accomplishment.
4	"Did you know that" Did you know that: Respiratory Care Practitioners are the health professionals responsible for taking care of patients with heart and lung problems. Respiratory Care Practitioners care for newborn infants, children, adult, and the elderly. Career opportunities are excellent for Respiratory Care Practitioners and salaries are competitive with other health professions.
5	What is Respiratory Care? Respiratory Care (RC) is the health profession that specializes in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function and health. Respiratory Care Practitioners (Respiratory Therapists) apply scientific principles to prevent, identify, and treat acute or chronic dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary system.
6	"Respiratory Care Practitioners have an..." Respiratory Care Practitioners have an in-depth knowledge of Cardiopulmonary physiology and pathophysiology Patient assessment and cardiopulmonary diagnostics Pulmonary disease Advanced life support and critical care Pharmacology Biomedical engineering and technology Respiratory Care Practitioners effectively Assess Educate and Treat patients with heart and lung problems
7	"Respiratory care is focused on" Respiratory care is focused on: prevention assessment treatment management control diagnostic evaluation education and care
8	What Do Respiratory Therapists Do? Respiratory Care Practitioners use: Critical thinking Patient/environment assessment skills Evidence based clinical practice skills Respiratory Care Practitioners: Develop and implement effective care plans Apply patient driven protocols Utilize disease-based clinical pathways Implement disease management programs Perform therapeutic and diagnostic procedures
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10	What Breathing Disorders Do Respiratory Care Practitioners Treat? Asthma Bronchitis Emphysema COPD Cystic Fibrosis Chest Trauma Pneumonia
11	What Kinds of Patients Do Respiratory Care Practitioners Treat? Lung disease patients Heart patients Neuromuscular patients Accident victims Premature babies Children Adults The elderly
12	Where Do Respiratory Care Practitioners Work? Acute care hospitals Diagnostic laboratories Rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities Patient’s homes Patient transport services Physician offices Convalescent and retirement centers Educational institutions, including colleges and universities Industry
13	Respiratory Care Practitioners Perform Patient Assessment Physical Assessment General appearance Vital signs Chest inspection Breath sounds Percussion / palpation Bedside assessment of cardiopulmonary function (SpO₂, Peak Flow, FEV₁, VC, IC) Respiratory Care Plan Development & Implementation
14	Respiratory Care Practitioners Perform Diagnostic Procedures Arterial blood gas analysis Pulmonary function studies Sleep studies EKGs and cardiac tests Stress and exercise testing
15	Respiratory Care Practitioners Perform Therapeutic Procedures Oxygen administration Medication administration Secretion management Chest physiotherapy Lung expansion therapy Pulmonary rehabilitation and disease management Smoking cessation
16	Respiratory Care Practitioners Work in the ICU Adult, pediatric, and neonatal ICUs Mechanical ventilation Resuscitation Arterial blood gases Physiologic monitoring Airway care Intubation Oxygen and aerosol therapy
17	How Does the Job Market Look for Respiratory Care Practitioners? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists Respiratory Care as among the fastest growing professions. BLS projects a 42.6% increase in demand for respiratory care personnel for the period 1998-2008. Family Money Magazine lists Respiratory Care among the top 50 careers for the 21st century (January/February 2000, p. 52)
18	How Does the Job Market Look for Respiratory Therapists? The need for RCPs is growing due to: large increase in the elderly population environmental impact on diseases such as asthma smoking and COPD technological advances in treatment of cardiopulmonary disease advances in treatment of premature babies
19	How Much Do Respiratory Care Practitioners Make? Average starting salary in the Twin cities is $40,000/yr Salary varies with educational degree, location and years of experience. Supervisors, clinical specialists, and department managers have higher salaries. CSC - RC grads 1st job salary averaged $43,000 (2005).
20	Is Respiratory Care For Me? A career as a respiratory care practitioner can provide: a great job at a good salary job security, job mobility the opportunity to help others recognition, respect, and appreciation a sense of accomplishment A rewarding career for life
21	"A career as an RCP..." A career as an RCP can provide: the ability to make a difference in peoples lives interesting and meaningful work a high tech and exciting career a people oriented profession the opportunity to become a respected member of the health professions A life and breath career for you!
22	How Do I Become an RCP? Associate Degrees 2 year program CRT and/or RRT credential Bachelors Degrees Four-year college or university RRT credential Opportunity for leadership management and supervision education or research clinical specialization
23	In What Areas Do Respiratory Care Practitioners Receive Instruction? RC students study O2 therapy, aerosol medications, ventilators Chest physiotherapy, breathing exercises RC students get extensive clinical experience in: Intensive care units (adult, pediatric, neonatal) Cardiopulmonary diagnostics Home care & Rehabilitation and more
24	CSC Respiratory Care Baccalaureate Major Requirements for Admission
25	What Courses Do I Need to Prepare for an RC Education Program? Pre-requisite courses required for admissions to the CSC RC program include Math, Chemistry, Psychology and Sociology. Please reference the CSC catalog for specific information
26	Is Respiratory Care for me? Visit St. Kates Minneapolis Take our tour of an ICU! Visit the RC links on the St. Kates Website Talk to an RCP
27	RCPs Make A Difference For more information, contact: John Boatright - jeboatright@stkate.edu - 651.690.7819 Paul LaMere - pelamere@stkate.edu - 651.690.7820 Lori Vogelpohl – lbvogelpohl@stkate.edu – 651.690.7812 College of St. Catherine, Undergraduate Day Admissions 651.690.8850 or 800.656.5283
28	Respiratory Care Cares