Gwynedd Mercy University
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
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 designated low cut score level grants the student the Certified Respiratory Therapist ( CRT ) credential and allows the student to apply for a license to practice in the State of Pennsylvania .
Upon completion of the NBRC Therapist Multiple Choice Examination at a designated high cut score level , the student is eligible to sit for the NBRC Clinical Simulation Examination . Upon successful completion of this examination , the student is granted the title of Registered Respiratory Therapist ( RRT ) and the receipt of an exclusive registry number . The RRT is the terminal credential in the profession of respiratory care and the highest level of professional practice . All students should aspire to achieve this level of credentialing . Additional specialty examinations and credentials are available and can be addressed by the program faculty .
Fourth Year The fourth year is the baccalaureate level of the program . It is designed as a degree completion program that enhances the liberal arts and adds health science electives geared towards professional leadership in the areas of patient / family clinical education , wellness , and / or entry- level management / supervision . The bachelor ’ s degree strives to prepare a well-rounded graduate prepared to provide professional leadership and service .
Bachelor of Health Science in Respiratory Care : As noted above , this option is designed as the final year of the 3-plus-1 program . It is a degree completion program designed for students seeking professional leadership , education and / or service in Respiratory Care . Students choosing this option must first complete all course work outlined in the Associate Degree curriculum and the additional courses outlined on the curriculum sheet .
Preparation for Professional Licensure : The Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care ( CoARC ) and is an Entry into Respiratory Care Professional Practice Program . It prepares the student for eligibility to sit the NBRC Examination . Upon completion of the NBRC Examination at the low-cut score , the student is eligible to secure a license fro the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs of the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine to practice as a certified respiratory therapy practitioner .
Program Learning Outcomes – Program learning outcomes flow from the CoARC-mandated requirement to “ develop student in the cognitive , psychomotor and affective domain .” Specific learning outcomes are as follows : PLO1 : Integrate knowledge from the humanities , natural and behavioral / social sciences with the current practice of respiratory care .
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