Respiratory Care Practitioner Program
Program Overview
In the Respiratory Care program, you will learn to care for patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary system disorders. Specifically, you will learn to perform routine therapy such as oxygen, lung inflation, and secretion management, as well as, critical care modalities such as ventilator management, arterial puncture and analysis, neonatal and pediatric care, home care, sleep technology, hemodynamics, and ECG. You will receive laboratory training followed by hands-on experience in hospitals, labs, and home care sites. Respiratory Care is a 95-credit program that requires 29 credits of liberal arts and sciences prior to entering the seven semesters of professional training to complete an Associate of Science degree in Respiratory Care.
Contact Information
- Program Director: Jung Eun Kim, jungeun@hawaii.edu, (808) 734-9243
- Counselors/Advisors: Health Careers Counseling Center
Degree & Certificates
Associate in Science – Respiratory Care (95-96 credits)
The Associate in Science degree in Respiratory Care is a fully accredited program that requires completed credits in liberal arts prior to entering the six semesters of professional training and additional credits of arts electives to receive the Associate in Science degree in Respiratory Care (ASRC) and registry eligibility to sit for national credentialing exams. The Respiratory Care program prepares students to care for patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary system disorders. Specifically, students will learn to perform routine therapy such as oxygen, lung inflation, and secretion management, as well as, critical care modalities such as ventilator management, arterial puncture and analysis, neonatal and pediatric care, sleep technology, hemodynamics, and ECG. Students also will receive laboratory training followed by hands-on experience in hospitals, labs, and home care sites.
Program Information
Special Announcements
COVID-19 Advisory (relative CR/NC Policy)
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be accepting CR grades from the spring 2020 semester to fulfill prerequisite courses, however, letter grades are preferred. Supplemental information may be required if you choose to submit a CR grade. If you have any questions, please contact Health Sciences/Emergency Medical Services counselors at (808) 734-9224 or hlthsci@hawaii.edu
Program Accreditation
The Respiratory Care program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). Mailing address: 264 Precision Blvd. Telford, TN 37690.
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.
Licensure and State Authorization
Once the student has completed the program and passed the licensure requirements, s/he will be licensed to practice as a Respiratory Care Practitioner in the State of Hawaii. Kapiʻolani Community College (Kapiʻolani CC) may not be able to confirm whether a particular program meets the professional licensure requirements outside of the State of Hawaiʻi. Kapiʻolani CC recommends the student contact the respective professional licensing board to determine the licensure requirements in the state in which the student lives.
Potential Careers and Employers
- Careers: Respiratory care practitioners (RCP’s) work in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes; they also provide home care.
- Education: Graduates from the AS RESP program can seamlessly transfer to the University of Hawai‘i (UH) West O‘ahu for the Bachelor of Applied Science, with a concentration in Respiratory Care. This degree is designed to supplement the technical training that a student receives at Kapi‘olani Community College by helping students develop job skills that are needed to excel in the industry, such as critical thinking and communication skills. The bachelor’s program also exposes students to the historical, cultural, and social context of the profession. UH West O‘ahu courses are delivered both in-class and through distance learning instruction.
Program Outcomes
The Respiratory Care Program at Kapi‘olani Community College prepares graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists.
Upon successful completion of the Associate in Science degree in Respiratory Care, the student should be able to:
- Demonstrate competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
- Assimilate and apply relevant knowledge necessary to function competently as an advanced-level therapist.
- Perform technical and clinical skills necessary to function competently as an advanced-level therapist.
- Demonstrate professional behavior skills necessary to function competently as an advanced-level therapist.
Health Careers Counseling Center
Support for Health Career Pathways
Learn about admission requirements and criteria, program curriculum, program cost, financial aid, application for licensure/certificates, and transfer to baccalaureate programs.
Health Career Counselors/Advisors
Kauila 106
hlthsci@hawaii.edu
(808) 734-9224
Virtual Walk-in Hours: Monday thru Thursday from 9:00-11:30 am & 1:00 – 3:00 pm. No appointments are needed. Closed on holidays.
Health Careers Info Session
Program Information sessions are held monthly and provide potential applicants with program details and requirements, application procedures, and career outlook. Attending an information session is recommended before you start your academic journey. Attendance of a program information session within one year of the application submission is mandatory when applying to a Health Science and EMS program.