Respiratory Therapy (RRT to BSRT)

Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

Completed application
Official transcripts
Letter of recommendation
Official SAT and/or ACT test scores (Marywood is test optional)
Essay (optional)

Facilities & Technology

The Respiratory Therapy program is located in the O’Neill Center for Healthy Families. The state-of-the-art facility includes spacious labs with equipment that will be seen in the clinical setting. Students simulate many therapies and use different types of equipment to build confidence before going into the clinical setting. All Respiratory Therapy majors are required to achieve competence in the lab in a controlled environment before going out to the clinical sites with patients. Students perform real simulation situations and activities in the lab, so they will have an understanding of therapeutic concepts and how they are applied in real patient care settings. The simulations prepare our students to treat patients as they begin the clinical portion of the program.

O'Neill Center for Healthy Families

The O'Neill Center for Healthy Families, located on University Avenue, provides classroom and research space, joining academic programs to innovative research. Students from the Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Exercise Science, Respiratory Therapy, and Physician Assistant programs have classes in this building. It is also home to The Human Performance Lab, a state-of-the-art facility designed to serve the needs of student, professional, amateur, and recreational athletes and the community.

The Keith J. O'Neill Center for Healthy Families, dedicated on October 18, 2002, was named in honor of its benefactor, esteemed alumnus and former trustee Keith J. O'Neill '76, the first male to graduate from Marywood's dietetics program and an accomplished leader in the dietetics profession. He credits Marywood for "(giving) me the skills and confidence to take on the challenges that come from running a large food service department and eventually from the challenges created by starting my own company."

In 2024, Marywood University further expanded its deep commitment to health sciences during the dedication of the Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion, a transformative addition to the Keith J. O'Neill Center for Healthy Families and a cornerstone of the EMPOWER Campaign.

The $11.5 million Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion is a realization of Marywood's commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities for education in the health sciences. Generously supported by the Pascucci Family and other dedicated donors, this new space elevates the learning experience of future healthcare professionals and contributes to the University's mission of fostering excellence in education.

Lecturer

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Courses & Curriculum (30 Total Credits + Transfer Credits)

Course Numbers	Course Names	Credit Hours
Choose 9 credits from either track:
*Track A Elective: Language Track*		*9 Credits*
SPAN 102	Elementary Spanish I	3
SPAN 212	Intermediate Spanish II	3
SPAN 211	Intermediate Spanish I	3
SPAN 307	Medical Spanish	3
SPAN 111	Elementary Spanish II	3
*Track A Elective: PHIL/RST Track*		*9 Credits*
PHIL 113	Introduction to Philosophy	3
RST 112	Encountering Faith	3
PHIL 312	Philosophy of Religion	3
RST 213	Jesus in Contemporary Perspective	3
PHIL 315	Ethics	3
*Major Required Courses*		*21 Credits*
RESP 320	Disease States	3
RESP 350	Leadership and Management in Healthcare	3
RESP 360	Advanced Concepts	3
RESP 410	Educational Principles in Healthcare	3
RESP 405	Speciality Clinical Observation	3
RESP 440	Respiratory Capstone	3
RESP 325	Research Methods in Respiratory Therapy	3
Transfer Credits Rewarded		Number of Credits (Max)
AAS Degree Completed		62
AS Degree Completed		70
Additional Credits Awarded		20

Course Numbers

Course Names

Credit Hours

Choose 9 credits from either track:

Track A Elective: Language Track

9 Credits

SPAN 102

Elementary Spanish I

SPAN 212

Intermediate Spanish II

SPAN 211

Intermediate Spanish I

SPAN 307

Medical Spanish

SPAN 111

Elementary Spanish II

Track A Elective: PHIL/RST Track

9 Credits

PHIL 113

Introduction to Philosophy

RST 112

Encountering Faith

PHIL 312

Philosophy of Religion

RST 213

Jesus in Contemporary Perspective

PHIL 315

Ethics

Major Required Courses

21 Credits

RESP 320

Disease States

RESP 350

Leadership and Management in Healthcare

RESP 360

Advanced Concepts

RESP 410

Educational Principles in Healthcare

RESP 405

Speciality Clinical Observation

RESP 440

Respiratory Capstone

RESP 325

Research Methods in Respiratory Therapy

Transfer Credits Rewarded

Number of Credits (Max)

AAS Degree Completed

AS Degree Completed

Additional Credits Awarded

Students must show successful completion of RRT credential in order to graduate from this program.

Student Resources

Clinical Requirements

The following must be completed after a respiratory therapy major has been selected for, but prior to their start in the clinical portion of the program and are also requirements for continuation:

Physical examination and required immunizations
Background checks (Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, FBI fingerprint check, and PA State Police Criminal Record Check)
Drug screens

The student should consider these factors before enrolling in this program. If the student has any questions regarding this, he or she should contact the program director.

In addition to tuition and fees, students must purchase uniforms, supplies, liability insurance, testing, and clinical parking fees. Students will be assigned computer simulations that will be completed throughout the program. This will prepare students to sit for the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) exams when they have graduated.

Students will also be required to help within the community and gain knowledge outside of the classroom setting by acquiring Professional Development credits. These outside credits could include volunteering at American Lung Association events, attending informational sessions within the community that teach different types of cardio pulmonary disorders and diseases.

Membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is required by the start of the second semester of the clinical portion of Respiratory Therapist program.

Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy include current Certification in American Heart Association BLS (CPR), American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, professional development credits, and satisfactory performance on comprehensive written, laboratory, simulation, and oral exit examinations.

Acquiring Core Skills
In addition to the clinical skills that students will learn as part of their curriculum, the BSRT program incorporates core skills training into the program that will benefit all Respiratory Therapy students in their careers.

Writing in the Profession
Students will demonstrate the ability to write effectively in the profession. Elements include the ability to organize an argument, support the argument with high quality relevant evidence, deliver it with good sentence structure and grammar, and cite and reference appropriately.
Oral Communication/Consultative Function/Knowledge
Students will deliver a consultative presentation with recommendations that reflect the knowledge gained through courses in this program.
Critical Inquiry/Evidence-based Medicine
Students will demonstrate the ability to formulate a clinical question, search the medical literature, and assess the collected literature for quality, relevance and limitations.
Teamwork/Interprofessional Cooperation
Students will demonstrate collaboration in interprofessional teams to accomplish a common goal.
Ethical Leadership
Students will demonstrate effectively the ability to lead a group of professionals in an ethical manner promoting patient advocacy.
Teaching Patients and Healthcare Professionals
Students will demonstrate the ability to educate patients, their families, and healthcare professionals.

Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements include current Certification in American Heart Association BLS (CPR), American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, professional development credits, and satisfactory performance on comprehensive written, laboratory, simulation, and oral exit examinations.

Membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is required by the start of the second semester of the clinical portion of Respiratory Therapist program.

Career Settings

Respiratory therapists provide the hands-on care that helps people recover from a wide range of medical conditions. Therapists get to know their patients, and their patients’ families, and have the opportunity to help them through trying times. Whenever breathing is an issue, they are there.

In hospitals, giving breathing treatments to people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
In intensive care units, managing ventilators that keep the critically ill alive.
In emergency rooms, delivering life-saving treatments.
In newborn and pediatric units, helping kids with conditions ranging from premature birth to cystic fibrosis.
In operating rooms, working with anesthesiologists to monitor patients’ breathing during surgery.
In patients’ homes, providing regular check-ups and making sure people have what they need to stay out of the hospital.
In sleep laboratories, helping to diagnose disorders like sleep apnea.
In skilled nursing facilities and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, helping older people breathe easier and get more out of life.
In doctors’ offices, conducting pulmonary function tests and providing patient education.
In asthma education programs, helping kids and adults alike learn how to cope with the condition.
In smoking cessation programs, assisting those who want to kick the habit for good.
In air transport and ambulance programs, rushing to rescue people in need of immediate medical attention.
In case management programs, helping devise long-term care plans for patients.

Respiratory Therapist Job Duties

Here is a list of tasks that Respiratory Therapists do every day.

Monitor patient’s physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, high flow oxygen, aerosol generators, nitric oxide gas inhalation therapy, and BiPAP/CPAP machines
Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
Maintain charts that contain patients’ pertinent identification and therapy information.
Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition
Perform arterial blood gas punctures and analyze results
Are first line responders to emergency situations such as cardiac arrest and code blue situations performing manual ventilation and assist/perform intubations on patients

Ideal Skills for a Respiratory Therapist

Like most jobs in the healthcare profession, respiratory therapists need to have a unique skill set that allows them to multitask while remaining hyper-focused on the needs and conditions of their patients. All respiratory therapists should have the following skills:

Verbal communication skills
Calm bedside manner
Compassion
Deep understanding of infectious control
Ability to work with a medical team
Good judgment and quick decision-making ability
Time management skills
Physiological knowledge
Patience and ability to teach and train patients
Detail oriented
Science and math skills

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About the RRT to BSRT Program

Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

Facilities & Technology

O'Neill Center for Healthy Families

Pascucci Family Health Sciences Pavilion

Center for Natural and Health Sciences

Scholarships

Tuition

Faculty

Dr. Theresa Tulaney

Dr. April Lynn Ciesielski

Sarah L Dalton

Danielle A Holod

Katrina Powell

Jonelle M Vinton

Audrey A Angelella

Candace L Beddoe

Kristin M Chacko

Michael M Costello

David Culp

James D Gavin

Nadine Marie Harvey

Taylor Ranee Herron

Mary Joan Lavelle

Lisa M Maida

Karen A Marsh

Dr. Alice E McDonnell

Margaret Bisignani Moyle

Janine Mroczka

Janel M Notari

Dr. LoriAnn F Pajalich

Emily M Rogan

Sarah Gabrielle Rotell

Savannah Marie Stephens

Amanda Danielle Ward

Amy-Jo Wescott

Shannon West

Courses & Curriculum (30 Total Credits + Transfer Credits)

Student Resources

Clinical Requirements

Career Settings

Respiratory Therapist Job Duties

Ideal Skills for a Respiratory Therapist

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