Program Admission
Review the Health Careers Admissions Process and follow the requirements below.
Admission Requirements
Each of the following requirements MUST be completed to be considered qualified and placed on the Respiratory Therapist qualified list.
- Maintain GPA (2.70 or higher)
- Accuplacer Next Gen (255+) Reading Score
- Eligible for placement into ENG 131
- Eligible for placement into MATH 110
- BIO 233 with a C grade or better
- AH 100 with a C grade or better
- CHEM 131 with a C grade or better
To become qualified, you must complete all admission requirements and contact the Student Success Navigator or Health Careers Academic Adviser. Qualified students are formally admitted to the program once per year, in the fall semester, on a first-qualified first-admitted basis. Final approval to enroll in the program comes from the Respiratory Therapist Program Director.
Required Support Courses
Students may choose to complete as many of the following support courses prior to entering the program. These courses are a part of the RTH Program.
Summary Job Profile
The following is a description of the functional abilities required of a student in the Respiratory Therapist program at Henry Ford College. A student must be able to perform these tasks with or without “reasonable accommodation”, as outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. A student requiring accommodation in order to perform any of these tasks should contact Assisted Learning Services.
Job Summary
Respiratory Care is the health care specialty involved in the diagnosis, treatment and preventive care of patients with disorders of the heart and lungs. The professionals who provide this care are called Respiratory Therapists. In the most common employment setting, they care for patients throughout the hospital including in emergency rooms, neonatal, pediatric and adult critical care units. Respiratory therapists may provide care in patients’ homes, rehabilitative centers, etc. For experienced therapists with advanced education, careers in areas such as supervision, education and equipment sales and marketing exist. The therapist is capable of serving as a resource to physicians and other health care staff regarding the technical aspects of respiratory therapy and critical care technology. The therapist is able to function in situations of unsupervised patient care requiring individual judgment.
Physical & Mental Effort
Strength: Requires the ability to frequently push/pull 60-100 pounds and move/lift objects more than 50 lbs. as in transferring patients.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to constantly perform moderately difficult manipulative skills, grasp small objects with hands, pinch/squeeze or pick up objects with fingers. Must be able to manipulate dials, knobs, settings and equipment. Must be capable of maintaining sterility.
Coordination: Requires constant performance of gross body coordination such as walking, standing, and bending. Requires the ability to constantly perform tasks that require eye-hand coordination such as measurements, use of equipment, etc. Must have the ability to frequently perform tasks that require arm-hand steadiness as in taking pulses and application of certain modalities.
Mobility/Endurance: Stand at patient’s side or remain in uncomfortable positions during procedures. Maintain physical tolerance and walk/stand for prolonged periods of time (continue tasks throughout a 12-hour shift). Sustain repetitive movements. Move in confined spaces. Frequently required to remain in uncomfortable positions such as bending over beds. Work and complete tasks at a reasonable pace.
Hearing: Must be constantly able to distinguish various sounds with and without background noise. Hear faint voices and body sounds (example: breath sounds) Hear sounds with a stethoscope. Hear audible alarms such as ventilator alarm and patient monitors including in the presence of background noises. Hear overhead pages to call for emergency assistance.
Visual Discrimination: Constantly required to see objects closely up to 20 inches away and more than 20 feet away as in reading instrument dials and monitors, patient ID bands, patient electronic charts. Must be able to determine changes in patient’s physiologic status through visual observation of changes in patient’s coloring etc. Be able to assess patient’s physiologic status. Required to discriminate colors as in reading warning alarm lights, patient monitors, etc.
Concentration: Requires the ability to constantly concentrate on moderate to fine detail with constant interruption. Requires the ability to adapt to changing environment/stress, deal with the unexpected (example: crisis), perform multiple responsibilities concurrently and monitor own emotions
Attention Span: Constantly needs to be able to attend to tasks/functions for 45-60 minutes at a time. Frequently attends to multiple tasks/functions at the same time.
Conceptualization: Frequently needs to be able to understand and relate to the theories behind several related concepts.
Memory: Requires ability to constantly remember multiple tasks/assignments given to self and others over long periods of time.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Convey information through verbal and nonverbal communication and written word. Communicate in a one-on-one setting as well as in groups. Interact effectively and appropriately with instructors, healthcare providers, peers, patients, and family to provide effective and efficient patient care.
Environmental & Working Conditions
Constantly exposed to blood, body tissues or fluids; frequently exposed to unpleasant noises such as patient monitor alarms; occasionally exposed to hazardous waste materials.