Respiratory Care Practitioner

Respiratory Care Interviews June 12, 2009 8am to 1pm in Kauila 217. Contact wehrman@hawaii.edu for more info.

Notice: Sept 14, 2009 Respiratory Information Session is cancelled due to construction.

Overview

Respiratory Care is a physician-directed health science specialty, caring for patients with disorders of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Respiratory care practitioners (RCP's) work in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes; they also provide home care.

Certification
Graduates of the RESP program are eligible to take the Entry-Level Examination of the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and earn the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential. CRTs are eligible to take the Advanced-Practitioner Examinations of the NBRC and, upon satisfactory completion, receive the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. The CRT credential is required in approximately 45 states for eligibility for a license to work as an RCP; currently no license in required in Hawaii.

Qualities Needed
Aptitudes and interests expected of RCPs include an interest in health care and helping people. Personableness, compassion, sensitivity, problem-solving skills, and manual dexterity as well as the ability to follow instructions and to work neatly and accurately are equally important.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner Program
The Respiratory Care Program at Kapiolani Community College is a two-year Associate in Science degree program that combines classroom learning and laboratory exercises with supervised clinical practice at affiliated hospitals. Approximately two semesters of prerequisite course-work must be completed, at any accredited institution, prior to admission to the program.