Respiratory Care
Respiratory Care is a rewarding field dedicated to helping patients with cardiopulmonary (heart-lung) disorders, like asthma, cystic fibrosis, trauma, and post-operative complications. The practice of Respiratory Care encompasses diagnostic evaluation, therapy, and education of patients found in neonatal/pediatric units, adult general and intensive care units, pulmonary function labs, pulmonary rehabilitation, and home care. RTs work closely with physicians, nurses, and other health professionals to deliver direct bedside care to patients of all ages.
Diagnostic activities include obtaining and analyzing sputum and blood specimens, performing breathing studies to determine if lung function is impaired, performing sleep disorder studies, and interpreting the data obtained from these.
Therapy includes administering medical gases and respiratory medications to alleviate breathing problems, applying and monitoring mechanical ventilatory and cardiovascular support, maintaining artificial airways, and performing bronchopulmonary hygiene procedures and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation activities.
Respiratory therapists also educate the patient, family and public to promote knowledge of cardiopulmonary disease, medical therapy and wellness.
To learn more about education and careers in respiratory care visit:
The Respiratory Care program at NDSU includes two or more years of pre-professional academic coursework and a 15-month full-time professional program at Sanford Medical Center Fargo, where students' class and clinical education is specifically applied to the practice of respiratory care. Graduates are eligible to complete a series of national certifying exams leading to the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) credential. This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavioral) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
They prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content with objectives related to the acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research, and advanced clinical practice, which includes an area of clinical specialization.
Since 1989, Sanford Medical Center-Fargo has partnered with NDSU to offer the professional program which consists of lecture, lab, and clinical education that prepares the student to write national certifying exams and enter the profession of respiratory therapy. The national certifying exams to become a registered respiratory therapist (RRT) are administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
The NDSU/Sanford Respiratory Care Program (CoARC #200367) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC; www.coarc.com), (817) 283-2835. CoARC 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.
Visit the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) website for programmatic outcome data including:
- RRT (advanced-level) credentialing success
- Attrition
- Job Placement
- Total number of program enrollees and graduates
During the professional program, students enroll at NDSU and pay tuition and student fees to NDSU at the student's regular resident rate. Students who qualify to receive financial aid through NDSU may continue to do so during the professional program.
In accordance with the agreement between NDSU and Sanford Medical Center-Fargo, NDSU sends a designated portion of tuition collected from the student each semester to Sanford Medical Center-Fargo to assist in covering the hospital expenses associated with the professional program. A student enrolled in the professional program is exempt from tuition discounts that reduce tuition below the ND resident rate.
Outside of NDSU tuition and student fees, professional-level students will pay tuition directly to Sanford Medical Center-Fargo to cover expenses associated with educational materials, laboratory equipment and supplies, and mock board exams. Students may be responsible for purchasing textbooks (approximately $1000.00), uniforms, and providing their own living accommodations and transportation during the professional program. Once students have been accepted into the professional program, the Sanford RC Program will provide students with more information about related program expenses.
Application & Admission
Students apply for the professional program during the year they will complete all pre-professional coursework. Students will work closely with the department and their academic advisor to prepare a successful professional program application.
To be eligible to apply, Respiratory Care applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Declared pre-RC major at NDSU;
- Achieve a minimum cumulative and core course GPA of at least 2.50 at the time of application. Core courses are: human anatomy and physiology and labs, general chemistry and labs, organic and biochemistry, microbiology and lab, physics, medical terminology and college algebra. The number of attempts of core courses will be limited to two;
- Earn a C or better in all courses to be used to fulfill major and degree requirements;
- Meet the professional program technical standards (mental and physical requirements) or request reasonable accommodations to meet the standards;
- Comply with criminal background and student conduct requirements.
Applications are available from the NDSU Department of Allied Sciences. Deadline for submission of applications to Sanford Medical Center-Fargo is March 1. A RC admission committee will make all final decisions on admitted applicants to the program. NDSU does not guarantee any placements to the RC professional program. Students may apply for the RC professional program a maximum of two times.