A report released earlier this year shows that graduates of SCC’s Respiratory Care program fare better than their counterparts across the country. According to the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) 2011 Annual Report of Current Status Outcomes, 100% of SCC graduates passed the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) Exam. The National average pass rate is 93%. Rates are calculated on a three-year rolling average.
Not sure what a respiratory therapist does?
Respiratory therapists focus on care of the human cardio-pulmonary system. They work in hospitals, care centers, doctor’s offices, and clinics.
“If you’ve ever had a breathing treatment, received an electrocardiogram (EKG), or required a ventilator, chances are you came in contact with a respiratory therapist,” explains SCC’s Respiratory Care Program Coordinator Stacy Lewis-Sells.
Since its inception in 1999, 138 students have graduated from SCC’s Respiratory Care program.
Over its brief history, the program has built a reputation of producing skilled, competent graduates. Sells says two things that set SCC’s program apart from others include diverse clinical rotations and exam preparation.
SCC Respiratory Care students participate in clinical rotations in 12 different facilities across the region. Respiratory care job functions vary by facility: some facilities place a strong emphasis on out-patient services, some specialize in long-term rehab, others focus on home health care, and still others intensive/critical care.
SCC Sweeps State Contest
SCC students swept the 2012 Sputum Bowl taking first, second and third place during last month’s annual Lung Conference in Ames. The Sputum Bowl tests contestants’ knowledge in a variety of areas related to respiratory therapy and science. Sputum is a clinical term used in respiratory care.
Sixteen teams competed from four colleges across Iowa.
This is the fifth time SCC has won since first competing in 2001. The first place team now has the opportunity to compete in the national contest in New Orleans later this year.
Winning team members Jeremy Kay, Hilary Wilmesmeier and Chris Adams.
“Having that range of experiences helps students get a broader understanding of how respiratory therapy is practiced in the field. That makes our graduates very well-rounded and therefore more appealing to employers.”
In addition, SCC requires students to attend a special seminar to prepare them for the CRT Exam. Students learn skills in test preparation and test-taking.
Sells says students must pass the CRT exam before they can be hired. That means for many students, in spite of being fully prepared, sitting for the exam can be extremely stressful.
“This seminar reinforces what they know and helps gives them some skills they can use to do well during the exam. It’s a big confidence-builder. Sometimes, that’s all they need.”
An anecdotal measurement of how SCC students stack up against other respiratory care students from across the state is the annual Sputum Bowl competition. SCC students have won the contest five times since they started competing in 2001. [see inset]
Respiratory care job prospects for SCC grads are promising. The average salary for Certified Respiratory Therapists in Iowa is $45,000. Plus, 88% of SCC’s grads find jobs within three months after graduation—far higher than the national average of 70%. It’s also not uncommon for some students to have jobs lined up even before they receive their degree.
To learn more about SCC’s Respiratory Care program, contact Program Coordinator Stacy Lewis-Sells at ssells@scciowa.edu.
