Respiratory Care: RRT Advanced Standing, MS

Master of Science Program

The Master of Science degree in Respiratory Care requires a minimum of 117 quarter hours of credit for graduation. This is an integrated program, requiring 29 quarter hours of program preprofessional prerequisite requirements prior to admission to Rush University for the professional phase (21 months). The preprofessional phase requirements may be completed at any accredited college or university and include the successful completion of a baccalaureate degree. Dedicated to clinical and academic excellence, the professional phase includes more than 1,200 hours of in-hospital clinical practice.

As a leadership program in respiratory care, this course of study aspires to provide graduates with the foundation needed to assume professional leadership roles in clinical practice, clinical specialty areas, research, education and management. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible for the national board examinations in respiratory care as well as state licensure.

Master of Science

All professional courses (RC-prefix) in the Department are taught in a sequential manner. Each professional course in the program serves as the prerequisite for the subsequent course. Consequently, professional courses must be taken in sequence. Withdrawing or failure to successfully complete a professional course with a letter grade of “C” or better may result in the student being placed on the three-year track, given a leave of absence (LOA) and academic probation or dismissed from the program after review by the Committee on Progress and Promotions. Students readmitted to the program at times other than the fall quarter of the second year will pick up the course sequence as prescribed by the Chair/Program Director or Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care.

Standards of Performance for Respiratory Care and Major Field-Related Courses

90-100 = A

80-89 = B

75-79 = C

70-74 = D

Below 70 = F

Unless otherwise described in a given course syllabus, the minimum satisfactory grade for course credit is a letter grade of “C” and all stipulated segments of a course must be passed by this standard. Students must demonstrate proficiency in all clinical skills presented in order to pass clinical courses. For all clinical courses, the final exam must be passed at the designated cut score AND a grade of “C” or better must be maintained in order to successfully complete each clinical course to continue in the program.

Students are expected to maintain an overall GPA in the program of at least 3.0.

Failure of the student to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 will subject the student to a review and may result in the student being placed on probation, given a LOA, or dismissed from the program after review by the Committee on Progress and Promotions.

If dismissed and the student wishes to reenter the program, he or she must reapply and will be considered on the same basis as any new applicant. Students who voluntarily withdraw from the program, either passing or failing, have no guarantee of reinstatement to the program. Students requesting readmission to the program should submit a letter to that effect to the Committee on Progress and Promotion for Respiratory Care.

Students readmitted to the program will pick up the course sequence as prescribed by the Chair/Program Director or Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care. The three-year track option may be used to remediate students that fail to earn at least a grade of “C” in each respiratory care course or maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0. While on this three-year track, withdrawing or failure to complete a respiratory care professional course with a letter grade of “C” or better may result in the student being placed on academic probation, given a LOA or dismissed from the program after review by the Committee on Progress and Promotions.

Clinical Final Examinations

All students are required to pass the clinical final examination after completing Clinical course to continue in the program. In the event a student fails the clinical final examination, the student is allowed to make ONE more attempt to pass. In the event the student passes the clinical final exam on the second attempt the student will continue in the program. The grade earned on the first attempt will be used to calculate the final clinical grade. In the event the student does NOT pass the clinical final exam on the second attempt the student will be placed in remediation. The student will be given a third attempt to pass the final by the end of the next quarter. In the event the students does not pass on the third attempt the student will earn an “F” in the clinical course and may be suspended or released from the program.

Comprehensive End-of-Program Competency Assessment Examination

Before graduating, the student will successfully pass the SAE therapist multiple choice examination and SAE clinical simulation examination (CSE). The SAE therapist multiple choice examination will be taken during the winter session of the second year as a part of RC 421 , Clinical Practice II. The SAE clinical simulation examination (CSE) will be taken during the spring session of the second year as a part of RC 431 , Clinical Practice III. A passing score on both examinations are required to successfully complete RC 421  and RC 431 . Students who do not successfully complete these examinations will receive an Incomplete (“I”) for RC 421  and RC 431  and will retake the examinations. Those failing the examination twice may be enrolled in RC 421  or RC 431  as a directed Independent Study for remediation. Those failing the examination after multiple attempts will be subject to dismissal from the program. Those students may reapply to the program (see Procedures for Readmission).    

Conduct and Ethics

Each student is expected to conduct oneself at all times in a dignified manner. This manner conforms to the ethics of the profession and instills patient confidence in one’s abilities as a health care practitioner. Each student is expected to conform to the professional code of ethics as outlined in this handbook and policies outlined in the university catalog.

Irresponsible, unprofessional or unethical behavior as determined by the instructor or failure to follow the instructions of a clinical instructor during clinical practice may result in dismissal from the program. All hospital regulations are to be followed by students when undergoing clinical training in a facility.

Scholastic Dishonesty and Cheating

The Department will not condone cheating in any form. Plagiarizing or copying others writing or work is considered cheating. Any allegations of cheating will be reviewed by the Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care and if merited, dealt with in a strict manner, including immediate dismissal from the program.

Any student found to be cheating on an examination, test, quiz or assignment will automatically receive a “0” for the grade and will be subject to dismissal from the program at the discretion of the Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care. Failure to report incidents involving scholastic dishonesty on the part of another student will be considered unprofessional conduct on the part of the student and may result in disciplinary action.

Examination Administration \All examinations given by the department will be monitored by faculty or staff at all times. Students will be seated in such a manner as to minimize the opportunity for observation of other students’ examination papers. No breaks will be allowed once an examination period has begun, and students may not leave the room during an exam until they are finished taking the examination, except in the event of an emergency, which will be judged by the faculty or staff monitoring the exam on a case by case basis.

If a student turns in an examination without answering all questions, he or she will NOT be given an opportunity to finish the examination after leaving the room.

Only marks made on the Scantron sheet will be used to compute a grade on all Scantron-graded examinations. Even if a student marks the answer correctly on his or her examination, but does not mark it correctly on the Scantron, only the Scantron answer will be used to compute the grade, not the answer marked on the examination.

Programmable calculators will NOT be allowed during examinations.

Examination Review

At the discretion of the course instructor, during review of any examination given within the curriculum, no other papers or books will be allowed on the student’s desk. No writing implements of any kind will be allowed. NO note-taking or recording of any kind will be permitted. This includes written note-taking and/or recording with audiotape, videotape or any other form of electronic or mechanical recording. Violation of this policy will constitute academic dishonesty and will be referred to the Committee on Progress and Promotions for review and possible disciplinary action.

Admissions Requirements - BS or MS Program

Individuals holding the RRT credential may apply to enter the Respiratory Care Program prior to any quarter. Submission of an application for admission should be made to the Office of College Admission Services with all official transcripts, NBRC RRT certificate and a personal interview at least 30 days prior to the first day of the quarter in which the individual desires to begin classes. General education and professional prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation. All other program policies and procedures apply.

Introduction

Individuals may have acquired academic credit in respiratory care courses from other schools and universities. Some individuals may acquire knowledge through experience and on the job training. When such persons apply for admission into the program, an attempt is made to grant academic credit for equivalent educational courses, equivalent knowledge acquired from experience and/or successful completion of the National Board for Respiratory Care’s certification and registry examinations.

All students graduating from the Respiratory Care Program must meet the same standards for graduation; the awarding of advanced standing does not signify a lesser-quality education than that offered through regular coursework. What it does, however, is attempt to exempt the student from those areas of the formal program where the student already has the knowledge and expertise in those skills that would be offered. The program has identified the minimum competencies that a respiratory therapist must have in order to provide safe, high-quality patient care. The identification of these competencies is a complex task and a great deal of care must be taken to ensure a standard of excellence.

The following policies and procedures are designed to ensure that those individuals who receive advanced standing are qualified to do so, and that the screening process adheres to University as well as departmental policies at all times.

To allow individuals who are not qualified to receive advanced standing is not in the student’s or the program’s best interest.

Definition

Advanced standing is defined as a special and individually determined status granted to a student in a formal educational setting, who has already gained through other sources or through nonacademic experiences, knowledge, skills and professional attitudes taught in the program courses.

Purpose of Advanced Standing Procedures

The purpose of the advanced standing procedures is to recognize and give formal educational credit for knowledge and/or ability gained through previous training or experience.

Methods of Granting Advanced Standing

• Advanced standing can be awarded through transfer credit.
• Advanced standing can be awarded through the passing of an equivalency examination covering a certain area of knowledge. (An equivalency examination is an instrument or means by which a student accepted into the Respiratory Care Program can demonstrate mastery of a knowledge area, content area or skill and thus be exempted from a course in the program which teaches that area or skill.)
• Advanced standing can be awarded as credit for successful completion of national certification (CRT/CPFT) or registry examinations (RRT/RPFT).

Eligibility for Advanced Standing

• Transfer students (who have been accepted into the Rush University Respiratory Care Program) may receive a transfer credit for equivalent courses within the Respiratory Care Program curriculum.
• Credentialed students (RRT, CRT, CPFT, RPFT) who have been accepted into the Rush University Respiratory Care Program may receive transfer credit and will also be eligible to take equivalency examinations in certain courses.

Policy for Transfer Students

Students who have completed coursework at other approved respiratory care programs may petition to have these courses transfer in lieu of specific coursework in the Rush University program. Students must submit a transcript of their courses from the program and a copy of the course syllabus for each course in which they desire transfer credit. The syllabus must contain the following: course objectives, lecture outlines, course content, evaluation procedures and related information. These courses will be evaluated on an individual basis for content and total contact hours and credit hours.

The Department reserves the right to test the proficiency of any student in coursework transferred from other respiratory care programs and the right to disallow such transfer credit in such coursework in cases which the student cannot demonstrate acceptable proficiency. All transfer credit is subject to the approval of the Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care. The student must also have a minimum grade of “C” (2.0) for each course being transferred. A student cannot receive transfer credit for any respiratory care coursework if he or she left the previous program due to academic probation, suspension or exclusion. All University policies regarding transfer credit must be satisfied.

Policy for Individuals Who Hold the CRT or RRT Credential

Advanced standing is available to individuals who have successfully completed the National Board for Respiratory Care’s Respiratory Therapy Certification (CRT) or Respiratory Therapy Registry (RRT). Those eligible for advanced standing must submit the following documentation:

• A notarized copy of the CRT or RRT certificate indicating that it is a true and accurate copy
• Official transcripts of all previous respiratory care and general education coursework attempted and/or completed
• A notarized copy of the Certificate of Completion from an approved respiratory care training program as applicable
• A completed application for admission to the program Advanced Standing. These are available in the Admissions Office.
• A letter directed to the Committee on Progress and Promotions for Respiratory Care requesting advanced standing

Credit Based on the RRT Credential

Individuals providing documentation that they hold the RRT credential may receive credit for the following theory courses:

• RC - 513 Respiratory Care Equipment and Techniques Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 511 Introduction to Respiratory Care Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 524 Pharmacology Credit Hours: (3)
• RC - 521 Patient Assessment Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 571 Clinical Practice I Credit Hours: (12)
• RC - 572 Clinical Seminar I Credit Hours: (3)
• RC - 581 Clinical Practice II Credit Hours: (12)
• RC - 582 Clinical Seminar II Credit Hours: (3)
• RC - 999 Ungraded Credit Credit Hours: (26)

Required Courses

The RRT Student must enroll in and complete the following required courses:

• RC - 562 Management Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 561 Education Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 563 Introduction to Research Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 591 Clinical Practice III Credit Hours: (12)
• RC - 573 Research Project I Credit Hours: (2)
• RC - 583 Research Project II Credit Hours: (2)
• RC - 593 Research Project III Credit Hours: (2)
• RC - 592 Clinical Seminar III Credit Hours: (3)

Elective Courses

The RRT student must select a minimum of nine quarter hours from the following courses:

• RC - 512 Cardiopulmonary Physiology Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 522 Pulmonary Disease Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 523 Mechanical Ventilation Credit Hours: (4)
• RC - 532 Cardiopulmonary Diagnostics and Pulmonary Function Testing Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 531 Critical Respiratory Care Credit Hours: (5)
• RC - 533 Pediatric and Neonatal Respiratory Care Credit Hours: (5)
• CHS - 510 Health Care in America: An Overview for Health Professions for Students Credit Hours: (2)

Sample Advanced Standing Program Student Schedule:

Summary of Minimum Requirements for the MS Degree for RRT Students Holding a Bacholor’s Degree