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Department of Respiratory Care PLOs

Respiratory Care BS

  1. Demonstrate through course exams and NBRC exams competence in the practice of advanced respiratory care.
  2. In the clinical setting and simulation demonstrate the ability to advocate, collaborate, and communicate both for and with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team.
  3. Throughout the program, demonstrate professional and ethical behavior and a commitment to the profession of Respiratory Care.
  4. Demonstrate critical thinking by evaluating clinical scenarios, troubleshooting equipment, analyzing research, participating in simulation, collaborative learning, and applying evidence-based care.

RRT Respiratory Care BS

  1. Writing in the Profession – Graduates of the program will have the ability to write professionally at a level consistent with a baccalaureate-level graduate. Competencies would include the following: discerning the target audience and purpose of the communication tailoring the language and material to fit, structuring an argument, using sentence structure that is direct and clear, using correct grammar, citing and referencing appropriately, and revising based on proofreading or external feedback. Graduates should be familiar with APA referencing at the completion of the program.
  2. Oral Communication/Consultative Function/Knowledge – The graduate will be able to use the knowledge gained in this program to function as a Respiratory Care Consultant and present an oral argument supporting a patient care plan or management project. Competencies would include the following: performing the background research to inform the recommendation, organizing the plan to include an introduction, develop a sequential argument and summarize the recommendation, present orally in a clear direct manner in the set time frame, effectively responding to questions related to the presentation.
  3. 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.
  4. Teamwork/Inter-professional Cooperation – Students will demonstrate collaboration in inter­-professional teams to accomplish a common goal
  5. Ethical Leadership – Students will demonstrate effectively the ability to lead a group of professionals in an ethical manner promoting patient advocacy.
  6. Teaching Patients and Healthcare Professionals – Students will demonstrate the ability to educate patients, their families, and healthcare professionals.

Respiratory Care MS-Online

  1. Professional Communication: Graduates will be comfortable communicating with fellow professionals in written form at the level required for publication in the major Respiratory Care journals; develop posters for sharing clinical research and quality improvement projects with fellow RT professionals at regional and national meetings; and feel comfortable orally presenting their work in a format consistent with professional conference presentations.
  2. Leadership Development: Graduates will become leaders in the profession, which includes having a broad understanding of how Respiratory Care fits into the national regulatory and administrative environment; how to lead a project with fellow professionals to accomplish a common goal; demonstrating respect for diversity and creating an inclusive environment for cooperation; managing change in a cost effective way; and understanding evolving concepts and their potential impact on clinical respiratory care.
  3. Educational Development: Graduates will feel competent in educating patients, families, and fellow healthcare professionals regarding respiratory therapy diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. This includes a broader deeper understanding of disease pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment and finding relevant information to inform education; how to tailor educational materials to the health literacy of those receiving the education; how to set objectives and deliver learning materials suited to different learning styles; and how to measure educational outcomes and adjust delivery methodology accordingly.
  4. Evidence Based Inquiry: Graduates will be expected to understand the importance of basing clinical decision making and protocol planning on the most recent highest quality evidence. This will require that graduates know how to frame a clinical question; search the medical literature; assess the validity of studies based on research design and quality; understand the common statistical measures used in clinical research; and thoughtfully compose plans for care and quality improvement projects based on this evidence
  5. Advanced Knowledge: Graduates will be a content expert of respiratory diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the most commonly occurring cardiopulmonary disease processes. At the conclusion of the disease management courses graduates should feel comfortable developing plans of care for common diseases and presenting them to physicians and other healthcare team members. The graduate will have covered much of the content required for the Adult Critical Care Specialist (ACCS) and Neonatal Pediatric Specialist (NPS) exams offered by the National Board of Respiratory Care.
  6. Organizational Management: Graduates will be capable of creating organizational change by developing projects that align with organizational mission and goals, emerging trends in healthcare, and improve outcomes for patients and the healthcare organization. This includes competencies in project development, engaging communities of interest, assessing financial and workforce impact, and monitoring outcomes foster continuing quality improvement.