Program Coordinator: Haustveit
Degree Type: Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy
The RRT to BSRT Completion Program is designed for individuals who have graduated from a CoARC accredited institution with an associate degree in Respiratory Therapy and have passed the NBRC Registered Respiratory Therapy (RRT) examination. Because the student is required to be a Registered Respiratory Therapist to graduate from this program, up to 45 semester hours of block credit will be granted for the RRT credential that will go toward the BSRT degree. All students must meet the University of Mary upper division requirement that requires students to take 44 hours of 300-400 level course work for the B.S.R.T. degree. This program information and its requirements apply to all students and faculty, regardless of the location or modality of instruction, including on-campus, online, hybrid, or off-site formats.
The Respiratory Therapy RRT to BSRT is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC); www.coarc.com. See also umary.edu/accreditation.
Program Goals
The RRT to BSRT Program Goal is as follows: “To prepare registered respiratory therapists to advance their professional practice through leadership, ethical decision-making, evidence-based care, and interprofessional collaboration. Grounded in the values of the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences, the program fosters critical thinking, research literacy, and a commitment to patient-centered care,empowering graduates to serve as competent, compassionate, and innovative healthcare professionals.”
- Goal 1. Demonstrate problem-solving and critical thinking skills while consulting with physicians and other health care personnel involved in the development of cardiopulmonary care strategies.
- Goal 2. Establish an evidence-base for best practice through research and the critique and interpretation of professional scientific literature.
- Goal 3. Demonstrate knowledge of the ethical obligations and responsibilities of health care professionals and institutions.
- Goal 4. Educate patients and the general public in matters of cardiopulmonary health and chronic disease management.
- Goal 5. Demonstrate leadership abilities as a member of the health care team.
RRT to BSRT Program Learning Outcomes
In the spirit of the University of Mary, Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences, and the RRT to BSRT Program mission, the RRT to BSRT Program seeks to prepare undergraduate students to:
Student Learning Outcome 1
● Professional Identity and Leadership: Articulate professional and clinical roles related to the respiratory therapy profession, such as leadership, education, and research.
Student Learning Outcome 2
● Collaborative Clinical Problem-Solving: Use critical thinking skills and work collaboratively to develop protocols to address challenges in clinical care.
Student Learning Outcome 3
● Evidence-Based Practice and Research Literacy:Develop an evidenced-based research paper that will demonstrate their ability to formulate a clinical question, search the literature, appraise, and apply it to clinical practice.
Student Learning Outcome 4
● Ethical Leadership in Clinical Decision-Making: Apply ethical reasoning and critical thinking to solve clinical problems to develop leadership principles.
Student Learning Outcome 5
● Health Promotion and Interprofessional Communication: Develop a health promotion project and work collaboratively to communicate effectively as a member of an interprofessional team.
Admission Requirements
To gain admission in the RRT to BSRT respiratory therapy program, a student must hold an Associate of Science (or equivalent) in Respiratory Therapy from a CoARC accredited institution of higher education. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher, with a GPA of 2.75 or higher in the respiratory therapy courses transferred in. Students who can provide proof of their RRT credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) must do so upon applying to the RRT to BSRT program. Students working on obtaining their RRT credential must prove that it has been acquired by the end of their first semester in the program. Students will not be allowed to continue their second semester of the program without proper documentation of their RRT credential.
