Bachelor and Master of Health ScienceRespiratory Therapy

• College Choice ranked the Bellarmine University Respiratory Therapy program as No. 1 in the nation in 2021.
• The undergraduate program was awarded Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care’s (COARC) Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success for five consecutive years from 2013 through 2017 and also 2020.
• The entry-level Respiratory Therapy graduate program is one of five in the nation. 
• Graduates of all programs demonstrate a high employment rate upon degree conferral.
• Students exhibit credentialing success higher than the national average.
• Students complete more than 800 hours of clinical experience across varying patient populations through Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room, sleep laboratory, home care, pulmonary clinic, and trauma center experiences.
• All students complete a capstone project in collaboration with hospital leaders to implement evidence-based practice and quality improvement projects at local medical institutions.
• Dr. Christy Kane, Associate Dean of the Lansing School of Nursing and Clinical Science, is president of the national Coalition for Baccalaureate and Graduate Respiratory Therapy Education (CoBGRTE) to continue her work toward advancement of respiratory care education.  

The Respiratory Therapy Program (CoARC program number #200281, offering the Bachelor of Health Science degree in Louisville, KY) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)  (www.coarc.com).

The Respiratory Therapy Program (CoARC program number #220281 offering the Master of Health Science degree in Louisville, KY) holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (www.coarc.com).

This status signifies that a program with an Approval of Intent has demonstrated sufficient compliance with the Standards (through submission of an acceptable Provisional Accreditation Self Study Report (PSSR) and any other documentation required by CoARC, as well as satisfactory completion of an initial on-site visit) to be allowed to admit students. It is recognized as an accredited program by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), which provides enrolled students who complete the program with eligibility for the Respiratory Care Credentialing Examination(s). The program will remain on Provisional Accreditation until it achieves Continuing Accreditation.

1. To prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of respiratory care practice as performed by registered respiratory therapists (RRTs).
2. To prepare leaders for the field of respiratory care by including curricular content that includes objectives related to acquisition of skills in one or more of the following: management, education, research, advanced clinical practice (which may include an area of clinical specialization).

The mission of Bellarmine University is to educate its students’ “…mind, body, and spirit—for meaningful lives, rewarding careers, ethical leadership, and service to improve the human condition.” The goal of the respiratory therapy program is subsumed within the university mission, in that the program graduates serve as, “…competent advanced level respiratory therapists.” Intellectual, moral, ethical, and professional competencies are explicitly stated in terms of three program objectives. Progress toward each objective is evaluated annually, using two or more evaluation systems, under guidelines promulgated by the Committee on the Accreditation of Respiratory Care (COARC). Program objectives and evaluation systems are as follows:

For both undergraduate and graduate students:

1. Intellectual competencies: To comprehend, evaluate, and apply clinical information relevant to advanced-level respiratory therapy practice (Cognitive Domain).
   1. National board examination system performance (Therapist Multiple Choice Examination and Clinical Simulation Examination).
   2. Survey following program completion looking at the graduate’s self-assessment of his or her professional knowledge base in reference to clinical expectations.
   3. Employer survey during first year after program completion assessing each graduate’s professional knowledge base in relation to clinical practice.
2. Moral, ethical competencies: To demonstrate professional behavior (Affective Domain).
   1. Ongoing in-program clinical assessment of peer and patient interactions.
   2. Survey following program completion directed at graduate’s self-described attitudes and behavior toward patients and peers.
   3. Employer survey during first year after program completion assessing the graduate’s attitudes and behavior toward patients and peers.
3. Professional competencies: To demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills necessary to fulfill the role of an advanced-level respiratory therapy practitioner (Psychomotor Domain).
   1. Survey following program completion looking at the graduate’s appraisal of his or her confidence and competence in performing clinical procedures.
   2. Employer survey during first year after program completion assessing the graduate’s clinical competency.
4. Leadership competencies: To describe and apply leadership skills related to management and education.
   1. Survey following completion of the capstone assessing the graduate’s leadership skills.
   2. Employer survey after completion of the capstone assessing the graduate’s leadership skills and potential.

For graduate students only:

1. Integrate findings from the sciences and humanities to improve health care across diverse settings.
2. Collaborate within interprofessional teams using effective leadership skills, ethical awareness, and critical decision-making skills to promote change.
3. Employ evidence-based practice methods to initiate changes and to disseminate results.
4. Assume leadership roles that contribute to, and advocate for, social, cultural, economic, and political changes to impact health care delivery.

Working toward its goals and objectives, the respiratory therapy program addresses Bellarmine’s larger mission to benefit the public interest and improve the human condition.

Christy Kane, Ph.D., RRT, RRT-NPS, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, FAARC, Program Director and Chair (email)
Shannon Terry, MSM, RRT-NPS, Director of Clinical Education
Dino Varajic, MD, Medical Director
Jenna Watts ( email)
Jeff Clark, MSM, RRT (email)