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Respiratory Care

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Program Overview

The Respiratory Care program prepares you to recognize and treat respiratory disorders in patients of all ages. You will be trained to work with newborn babies having a rough start at life, children with asthma and trauma, and adults with heart and lung complications. You will gain the knowledge and skills to perform:

  • Patient assessments
  • Breathing treatments
  • Lung clearance techniques
  • Airway care
  • Breathing tube insertion
  • Blood draws
  • Ventilator management
  • Medical record documentation
  • Sleep studies
  • Electrocardiograms
  • Pulmonary function tests

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

  • Van Gerpen Patient Simulator Laboratory: Train in the state-of-the-art simulation lab using realistic full-body manikins and simulators to replicate a range of hospital settings and patient scenarios in a controlled environment.

  • Clinical: Gain 800 hours of real-world work experience ensuring you have the skills you need to succeed in your future career.

Certification

Graduates are eligible to take the national examination for licensure, which is required to practice in any state. A social security number is required in order to take exams and apply for licensure.

You will earn certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).

Accreditation

The Respiratory Care program, 200457, Associate of Applied Science, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Programmatic Outcomes Data

Last Dollar Scholarship

This program qualifies for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship and will pay up to 100% of your tuition.

Faculty Spotlight

Jamie Bute, MBA, RRT, RRT-ACCS

"I'm passionate about respiratory care because it's never acceptable for anyone to be short of breath. Our students receive an abundance of hands-on learning and simulation, and they're prepared for as many real-life scenarios as possible. If students put forth the energy, I'll match their effort. Our goal is to graduate respiratory therapists who will advance the profession with hard work and continuous learning."

Video Overview

Respiratory Care Program at Hawkeye

Discover the high demand career in respiratory care—the training, the employment opportunities, and the job placements.

See More Video

Courses

Core Courses

  • Introduction to Respiratory Care
  • Airway Maintenance Procedures
  • Cardiopulmonary Therapeutics
  • Pulmonary Pathology
  • Introduction to Ventilator Support
  • Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Therapy
  • Clinical Respiratory Care
  • Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics
  • Intensive Respiratory Care
  • Clinical Intensive Care
  • Respiratory Care Applications
  • Clinical Preceptor
  • Respiratory Care RRT Review

You will be required to complete background screenings, including a criminal background check, sex offender registry, child abuse registry, and dependent adult registry before participating in clinicals.

The outcome could possibly affect your opportunities to participate in the clinical setting.

Program Details

Award: Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Required number of credits: 78
Program Start: Summer

General education coursework can be started any semester: fall, spring, or summer. Respiratory Care program RCP courses begin summer term.

View Suggested Sequence of Study & Course Cost

Careers

Positions

Graduates find employment in a variety of settings including:

  • Acute care hospitals
  • Sub-acute and long-term care facilities
  • Pulmonary function labs
  • Sleep centers
  • Home care

Example Careers and Average Wages
Entry Average Experienced
Respiratory Therapists $43,800 $52,800 $57,400

Source: 2018 Iowa Wage Report, Iowa Workforce Development

Employers

The following is a partial list of employers who have hired graduates from this program:
Business Location
Grandview Healthcare Center Oelwein, IA
Harmony House Health Care Center Waterloo, IA
Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN
Mankato, MN
Mercy Medical Centers Many Iowa locations
MercyOne Many Iowa locations
Midwest Sleep Services Waterloo, IA
UnityPoint Health Many Iowa locations
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Iowa City, IA

Admissions Requirements

Admissions Process

  1. Apply for admission at Hawkeye.
  2. Request to have your official transcripts sent to the Admissions office.
  3. Meet basic skill competencies in reading, writing, and math.

Completed applicant files (we have your application, transcripts, and test scores) will be processed as follows:

  • Applicants not meeting the program's admission requirements will be sent an admissions inactivation letter.

  • Applicants meeting all admission requirements will be accepted.

Applicants will be accepted based on the date their completed applicant file. If many students share the same date for completing their applicant files, the application date will be used to prioritize their acceptance.

The program accepts approximately 20 students each summer to the RCP professional core courses. If necessary, alternates will be contacted to fill unconfirmed positions in the program. Alternates will be given priority for the next term.

Hawkeye's Equal Opportunity Statement

Basic Skill Competencies Requirements

In order to be eligible for the Respiratory Care program, all students must meet minimum score requirements and/or complete required success courses. Success course credits do not apply towards graduation or the AAS degree.

Students must meet the minimum assessment score or have completed the required success course in each math, English, and reading.
ACT ACCUPLACER COMPASS ACCUPLACER Next Generation
19 Reading 76 Reading 82 Reading 251 Reading
19 English 82 Sentence Skills 65 Writing 253 Writing
19 Math 85 Elementary Algebra 42 Algebra 259 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics

Applicants can take the ACT assessment or the ACCUPLACER assessment at Hawkeye. Pre-registration is required.

Contact Us
Admissions Coordinator Holly Grimm Email me 319-296-4277 Hawkeye Center 114
Pre-Health Advisor Kay Wenzel Email me 319-296-2329 ext.1063 Grundy Hall 245
Student Success Specialist Kay Wenzel Email me 319-296-2329 ext.1063 Grundy Hall 245
Program Advisor Jamie Bute Email me 319-296-2329 ext.1919 Grundy Hall 184
Administrative Assistant Linda Butler Email me 319-296-4013 Grundy Hall 135
Dean Dr. Gene Leutzinger, DNP Email me 319-296-4457 Grundy Hall 135
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