Gwynedd Mercy University AY2023-2024 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
First Year The first year consists of general studies rich in the natural sciences , mathematics , and liberal arts disciplines . It is designed to prepare students for the respiratory care concentration courses taken in the second and third year .
Second Year The second-year entails course work in the art and science of respiratory care , coupled with a chemistry course in the Fall and microbiology in the Spring semesters . Respiratory care courses are didactic ( classroom ), laboratory , and clinical in nature . The didactic classes are designed to address the principles and concepts of the particular subject in question . The laboratory is designed for demonstration and practice and provides an environment where the student can first experience the procedures and practices of respiratory care in a controlled and closely supervised manner . Many of the laboratory sessions are self-directed with assistance provided by the faculty as needed and / or case studies or simulations to enhance theory . The clinical courses are both observational and performance in nature . The student will first observe procedures and modalities to gain confidence and familiarity . After exposure and observation , the student will perform procedures and modalities until competency is achieved . Competency is followed by repeated practice and skill refinement . The ultimate goal is mastery of specific respiratory care-based procedures while demonstrating a high degree of expertise . Clinical course work will entail rotations at multiple health care systems in the Greater Philadelphia area and begin in the spring semester of the second year . These rotations will take place twice per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the spring semester , followed by eight weeks of clinical rotations in the summer . The clinical component is competency-based which means that the student must successfully complete all designated procedures to satisfy the course requirements . Upon completion of the program ' s second year , the student will continue to the third year , where credentialing-eligibility can be obtained .
Third Year Entry into the third year of the program requires acceptable academic standing and approval of the program faculty The third year consists of advanced topics in respiratory care coupled with a statistics course in the Fall and a basic communication course in the Spring . The third year of the program is modeled after the second and consists of didactic ( classroom ), laboratory , and clinical courses . The didactic classes are designed to address the advanced principles and concepts in a classroom environment while the laboratory is designed for demonstration and practice . Laboratory sessions will often entail presentations and demonstrations by faculty , physicians and / or other health care professionals with knowledge and expertise in advanced topics . The clinical courses are both observational and performance in nature . The student will observe advanced procedures and modalities with the intention of gaining confidence and familiarity . After exposure and observation , the student will perform procedures and modalities until competency is achieved . Competency is followed by repeated practice and skill refinement . The ultimate goal is mastery of specific respiratory care-based procedures while demonstrating a high degree of expertise . Students in the third year of the program are expected to possess a high degree of expertise and proficiency with the skills and modalities addressed in the second year . The third year ' s clinical component will entail clinical rotations two days a week in the fall and spring semesters . Rotations are of an advanced nature and include specialty rotations that occur in a variety of clinical sites , including large university-teaching hospitals , pediatric and neonatal centers , community hospitals , and alternate care sites .
Upon successful completion of the program ' s third year , the student will receive an Associate Degree in Respiratory Care and be eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care ( NBRC ) Therapist Multiple Choice Examination . Successful completion of the Therapist Multiple Choice Examination at a
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