Respiratory Care Program
However, those with cardiopulmonary diseases know just how hard breathing can be. At ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ, students can become registered respiratory therapists and help patients breathe easier.
South Dakota’s health care industry is projected to add 6,472 workers to the state’s economy between 2018 and 2028. The rate of growth is projected to be 11.3%, much faster than the 7.1% projected for all industries.
Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 14% growth in the respiratory therapy from 2021 to 2031, with about 9,400 job openings projected each year. Median pay for a respiratory therapist is $70,540 per year or $33.91 per hour.
Our respiratory care program has received the President’s Award for Excellence in Credentialing Success, an honor reserved for a select group of programs that meet rigorous criteria.
Our respiratory care program has received the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award, which recognizes programs demonstrating at least 90% registered respiratory therapist credentialing success, along with strong outcomes as well as exam and retention performance.
The respiratory care program offers associate and baccalaureate respiratory care degrees. Graduates demonstrate competence in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning domains of respiratory care practice, to prepare and perform as registered respiratory therapists.
The Associate of Science in respiratory care is a two-year program that prepares graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning domains of respiratory care practice.
Upon graduation, you'll be eligible to take the entry-level examination of the National Board for Respiratory Care to become a registered respiratory therapist.
Elevate your career and set yourself up for upward mobility with our B.S. completion program, designed for working professionals. The bachelor's degree is a continuation of the A.S. degree in respiratory care. The bachelor's degree will further develop your respiratory therapy skills and knowledge base in:
- Medical ethics
- Pharmacology
- Advanced sciences
- Respiratory care management
- Current issues in respiratory care
- Step 1: Apply to SDState to enroll as a student, and start working toward your respiratory care degree.
- Step 2: Apply to the respiratory care program.
- Step 3: A member of the respiratory care program will be in touch to help you start the registration process.
Job Market and Starting Salary
Labor department statistics show major growth in the health care industry, and the report on respiratory therapy should really put wind in the sails of potential respiratory therapists.
South Dakota’s health care industry is projected to be among the largest growth industries through 2028, according to the Labor Market Information Center within the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. The industry is projected to add 6,472 workers to the state’s economy between 2018 and 2028. The rate of growth is projected to be 11.3%, much faster than the 7.1% projected for all industries. Further information on are available online.
Professional Opportunities for Students
You will also have access to seminars and conferences like the South Dakota Society for Respiratory Care. You can build your résumé and network with potential employers by sitting on the society's board of directors as a student representative.
In addition, the society offers scholarships and opportunities to attend the American Association for Respiratory Care conferences.
Clinical Rotations
Students complete their second professional year at one of the following:
- Monument Health in Rapid City
- Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls
- Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls
- Huron Regional Medical Center in Huron
- Madison Regional Health System in Madison
- Brookings Health System in Brookings
Skills and Concepts
Students will develop skills and master concepts in:
- Patient assessment
- Neonatal care
- Hemodynamic analysis
- Ventilator management
- Emergency and trauma
- Pulmonary diagnostic testing
- Disease management
- Respiratory pharmacology
Technology and Equipment Used
Students in the respiratory care program are exposed to advanced technology and the latest respiratory equipment, including:
- Ventilators
- Ultrasound
- Blood analyzing machines
- Medical charting systems
Program Goals
To provide graduates entry into respiratory care professional practice degree programs with additional knowledge, skills and attributes in leadership, management, education, research and/or advanced clinical practice that will enable them to meet their current professional goals and prepare them for practice as advanced respiratory therapists.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Student Learning Outcome 1: Patient data
- 1a: evaluate, analyze and acquire data
- 1b: evaluate procedure results and diagnostic tests
- Student Learning Outcome 2: Perform and recommend therapies
- 2a: perform clinical/patient assessment
- 2b: perform diagnostic procedures
- 2c: recommend diagnostic procedures and therapies
- Student Learning Outcome 3: Troubleshooting equipment
- 3a: assemble/troubleshoot devices
- Student Learning Outcome 4: Infection control
- 4a: ensure infection prevention
- 4b: perform QC procedures
- Student Learning Outcome 5: Initiation and modification of interventions
- 5a: maintain a patent airway/care of artificial airways
- 5b: perform airway clearance and lung expansion techniques
- 5c: support oxygenation and ventilation
- 5d: administer medications, specialty gases and mechanical ventilation
- 5e: ensure modifications are made to the respiratory care plan
- 5f: utilize evidence-based practice
- 5g: providing respiratory care in high-risk situations
- 5h: assist a physician/provider in performing procedures
- 5i: implement critical thinking and decision-making for problem-solving
- 5j: maintain ethical considerations
- 5k: initiating and conducting prescribed pulmonary rehabilitation
- 5l: establish therapeutic goals
- Student Learning Outcome 6: Communication
- 6a: maintain effective interprofessional communication
- 6b: provide patient/family/community education
- 6c: implement a variety of communication styles
- Student Learning Outcome 7: Disease management
- 7a: identify cardiopulmonary diseases
- 7b: perform disease prevention and management
Accreditation
The ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ respiratory care program, program numbers 200070 (base program) and 300015 (satellite program), granting the degree of Associate of Science in respiratory care, base program located on the campus of ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ and satellite program located on the campus of Monument Health Rapid City, is accredited by the .
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care accredits respiratory therapy education programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an outcomes-based process. Programmatic outcomes are performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. Program outcomes data is available on .
