Respiratory Care Technology Program
Volunteer State Community College | Division of Allied Health
Program Information
What Does A Respiratory Care Therapist Do?
Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) work under the direction of a physician and provide medical treatment to patients who suffer with chronic lung problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. They also work with victims of heart attack, accident victims and others with breathing problems.
CRT's and RRT's provide treatments that could include:
- Obtaining blood specimens for gas analysis, determining levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gasess
- Interpreting data obtained from these specimens to evaluate and make changes with life support systems, oxygen or nitric oxide or heliox gas administrations
- Diagnostic procedures to calculate impaired lung functions
- Recommend and administer aerosolized antibiotics, antiviral and bronchodilator therapiess
- Metabolic testing to assess the cardiopulmonary systems
- Home therapeutics for chronically ill patients or those suffering from a respiratory-related sleep disorders
- Monitoring and managing therapy that will help a patient recover lung function.
- Administering medications in aerosol form to help alleviate breathing problems and to help prevent respiratory infections.
- Monitoring equipment and patient responses to therapy.
- Conducting rehabilitation activities, such as low impact aerobic exercise classes, to help patients who suffer from chronic lung problems.
- Maintaining a patient's artificial airway, one that may be in place to help the patient who can't breathe through normal means.
- Conducting smoking cessation programs for both hospital patients and others in the community who want to kick the tobacco habit.
What type of Training Does Volunteer State Community College Offer?
We offer the advanced-level Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Program which consists of 14 months of study (after completion of general education/prerequisite requirements) and graduates receive an A.A.S. in Respiratory Care Technology. Graduates are then eligible to sit for a National Credentialing Exam to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
Our program is fully accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in conjunction with The Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
How Do I Get Started?
After admission to Volunteer State Community College through the Office of Admissions, submit an “Application to Allied Health” form to:
Allied Health Division
Respiratory Care Program
Volunteer State Community College
1480 Nashville Pike
Gallatin, Tennessee 37066-3188
PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 1st
You may request a Respiratory Care Information Packet online.
Drug Screen
In an effort to comply with the recommendations of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, some healthcare facilities and agencies utilized by the College for clinical training require that each student undergo and pass a drug screen prior to participating in clinical rotations. Each student, at his/her expense, is responsible for acquiring a drug screen and authorizing the submission of results to the College. No student will be permitted to participate in specific clinical rotations until the results have been received, reviewed, and accepted by the College. The specific type of drug screen and the due date will be provided to the students by the Director of Clinical Education during the latter part of the Fall Semester.
Student Background Check
In an effort to comply with the recommendations of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the majority of the major healthcare facilities and agencies utilized by the College for clinical training require that each student undergo and pass a student background check prior to participating in clinical rotations. Each student, at his/her expense, is responsible for acquiring the student background check report and authorizing the submission of results to the College. No student will be permitted to participate in a clinical rotation until the results have been received, reviewed, and accepted by the College. Failure to submit to and pass the required student background check report will result in the student being terminated from the program. Information regarding outside agencies that provide background check services as well as the due date of the checks will be provided to the students by the Director of Clinical Education during the latter part of the Fall semester.
