About the Program

Catalog Statement

Boise State University
Department of Respiratory Care

Location 950 Lusk, Boise, Idaho 83725
Health Sciences Riverside, HSR 116
Telephone (208) 426-3383
Website http://respther.boisestate.edu
FAX (208) 426-4093
E-mail cdudley@boisestate.edu

Faculty
Lonny Ashworth, M.Ed., R.R.T, Chair and Professor

William J. Dittrich, M.D., Medical Director

Jeff Anderson, M.A., R.R.T., Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Education

Lutana Haan, B.S., R.R.T., R.P.S.G.T., Instructor 

Jody Lester, M.A., R.R.T., Associate Professor

TJ Wing, B.S., R.R.T, Instructor

Degrees Offered
Associate of Science, Respiratory Care
Bachelor of Science, Respiratory Care

Department Statement
Respiratory Care is an allied health specialty concerned with the treatment, management, control, and care of the patient's breathing. The respiratory therapist is a specialist in the use of therapeutic and evaluation techniques in respiratory care. The respiratory care curriculum consists of a pre-professional year followed by two years of professional study, leading to an Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care. The Associate of Science Degree qualifies students for the examination of the National Board for Respiratory Care. Students may continue their education for an additional year, to earn the Bachelor of Science Degree. The Respiratory Care Program has been granted accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Requirements for Admission
Pre-Professional Year (Freshman Year)
See Chapter 3 of the BSU Catalog for BSU admission policies.*link

Complete an application to the Respiratory Care Program

Professional Program (Sophomore Year)
Only students who have completed, or are in the process of completing, the pre-professional curriculum (Freshman Year) with a GPA of 2.00 or higher will be considered for acceptance into the Respiratory Care Program. The pre-professional curriculum need not be taken at BSU.

Health status must be adequate to ensure performance of hospital activities in accordance with ADA guidelines.

All students admitted to the Respiratory Care Program are required to submit a negative PPD and document positive rubella, rubeola and varicella immunity to the Department by August of the year in which the student enters the professional program. A chest x-ray is required if the PPD is positive.  If the student hasn't had varicella (chicken pox) in the past, they must document receipt of the varicella vaccination. The Department recommends Hepatitis B immunization.

Admission with Advanced Standing
Admission to the Junior Year
Candidates who have received a passing score on the Entry Level Examination (CRT) offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) may be given credit for all RESPCARE and HLTHST prefixed courses taught within the Sophomore Year of the Respiratory Care Program. Candidates may be admitted into the Junior Year of the Respiratory Care Program, as space is available, and once the candidate has completed all courses within the Freshman Year of the Respiratory Care Program.

Admission to the Senior Year
Candidates who have graduated from an Advanced Practitioner Respiratory Care Program may receive transfer credit for all RESPCARE and HLTHST prefixed courses in the Sophomore Year. Candidates who received a passing score on the Written Registry Examination and Clinical Simulation Examinations offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) may be given credit for all RESPCARE and HLTHST prefixed courses taught within the Junior Year of the Respiratory Care Program. Candidates may be admitted into the Senior Year of the Respiratory Care Program, as space is available, and once the candidate has completed all courses within the Freshman Year of the Respiratory Care Program, and received credit for all RESPCARE and HLTHST prefixed courses within the Sophomore and Junior years of the Respiratory Care Program.

To earn the Bachelor of Science Degree, students must complete the Freshman Year courses, the Area I, II, and III Core elective requirements and all other University requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. Students must complete, or receive credit for, all RESPCARE and HLTHST prefixed courses required for the Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care. Finally, students must successfully complete the courses required for the Senior Year. The student must complete the final 30 credits at BSU.

Application Process
Pre-professional Year (Freshman Year)
http://admissions.boisestate.edu/Intro-to-Application.htm

Professional Program
Applicants must submit to the Department of Respiratory Care a completed "Special Programs Application" on or before March 1 of the year in which they plan to attend the professional program.

Applicants may be required to have an interview during the spring semester of the pre-professional year. Contact the Department Chair for specific dates.

Applicants will be notified of their status by the fourth week of April. Due to the limited number of clinical sites, the program can accept only a limited number of students each year.

Students accepted into the program are required to pay $5.50 for a name pin at the time of fall semester registration.

Lab fees of $16.00 and clinical insurance fees of $14.50 must be paid once each academic year at the time of fall semester registration.

A fee of $80.00 is required for the Patient Care Skills Lab course.

All fees noted above are to be paid directly to the BSU Payment and Disbursement Office.

Promotion and Graduation
Students who do not meet the following requirements may be removed from the program.

Students must earn at least a "C in every biology, health science, mathematics, chemistry, and respiratory care course.

A grade of less than a "C in any professional course (HLTHST, RESPCARE) must be repeated and raised to a "C" or higher.