A.O.S. in Respiratory Therapy Program

Please review the following requirements: General Admission Requirements for all programs.

Applicants must:

1. Attend or view a live or recorded Information Session.
2. Meet the following admission policies of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts: immunization, health screening, and background check (see Policies of Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts in School Catalog and “Admissions”).
3. Submit original transcripts from the Registrar at an educational institution for those requesting credit granting for courses. Copies of transcripts are not accepted. All coursework must be completed with a grade of at least a “C” and a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (on a 4-point) scale. All credit granting is subject to the Program Director or designee’s approval. Please allow seven (7) days for review.
4. Interview with the Program Director or Designee in person or online.
5. Submit a written essay on why they have chosen this career path.
6. Before starting this career choice, if an applicant has a criminal record and has been convicted of a felony, it would be in their best interest to contact the Respiratory Care Board (RCB) BEFORE they continue their education endeavors. “Having a prior criminal history does not preclude you from obtaining a license from the Respiratory Care Board of California (RCB). Each applicant for licensure must submit their fingerprints to the California Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation for a criminal history background check. Upon notification of an applicant’s criminal history, if any, the RCB will open an investigation to determine whether there is a basis to deny the application for licensure.”
7. If there are more qualified applicants than available seats, selection will be based on CCAT high scores, while the remainder will be placed on a waitlist for the next cohort start.

Please review the following requirements: General Performance Requirements for all programs.

Each program has physical and non-physical requirements to ensure student and patient safety and welfare. 

Each program has specific physical and non-physical requirements to ensure the safety and welfare of our students and patients. Almost all of our students (check with an Admission Advisor if applicable) must be able to:

• Handle stressful situations related to technical and procedural standards and patient care situations.
• Respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies using the English language.
• Communicate effectively with patients and staff in clear English in verbal and written forms.
• Read and interpret (or learn how to) patient charts.
• Tolerate strong, unpleasant odors.
• Provide physical and emotional support to the patients during procedures.
• Report clearly and legibly through progress notes in patient charts.
• Meet class standards for successful course completion.
• Collect, interpret, and integrate data about patients.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to individuals of all ages, genders, and races and from all socio-economic, religious, and cultural backgrounds.
• Cope with heavy workloads, demanding patients, and life-threatening clinical situations.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to potentially hazardous situations.
• Demonstrate the physical and emotional capacity to work a 40-hour week at the clinical rotation.
• Behave in an ethical, sound, competent, compassionate, and professional manner in the classroom and the clinic.
• Lift/carry:
  • One (1) pound – five (5) pounds frequently – Nebulizers, ventilator circuits, oxygen tanks, etc.
  • 20 pounds – 50 pounds occasionally – patient transfers and patient positioning larger equipment.
  • 50 pounds – 70 pounds rarely to occasionally – patient transfers.
• Stand and walk for up to 12 hours per day.
• Carry a minimum of 20 pounds while walking a distance of 100 feet.
• Bend or flex the upper trunk forward to 45 degrees and the lower torso into a squatting position.
• Rotate the upper trunk up to 30 degrees to the right and left.
• Reach at least 72 inches above floor level or an entire arm’s reach.
• Utilize the sense of hearing to communicate with the patients and healthcare team effectively.
• Utilize the sense of vision in all levels of hospital lighting, which varies from low illumination levels to bright light levels.
• Sit in class for up to eight (8) hours per day.
• Palpate anatomical structures and handle injured body parts without causing injury to the patient.
• During exercise, give manual resistance to a patient’s arm, leg, or trunk.
• Move with adequate agility and speed to ensure patient safety.
• Walk and balance well enough to help patients walk and transfer with or without equipment while preventing injury to patients and themselves.
• Safely grasp and manipulate small objects and set dials on electrical equipment.
• Use visual, auditory, and tactile senses to observe patients and collect and interpret data.
• Respond to warning sounds, machine alarms, and calls for help.

A.O.S. in RC students must be in good health and able to:

• Lift more than 50 pounds (22.68 kg) and push-and-pull routinely. Patient weight can exceed 500 lbs easily, so students should not attempt moving patients at any weight that exceeds their physical ability. They must wait for appropriate help when personal limitations are met.
• Hear sufficiently to assess patient needs and communicate verbally with other healthcare providers.
• Have full use of arms, hands, and wrists.
• Possess adequate visual acuity to review diagnostic reports and ventilator graphics, including color distinctions.
•  Stand and walk on your feet 80% of the time.
• Reach at or above shoulder level intermittently for 90% of work time.
• Work compassionately and effectively with sick patients.

 A.O.S. in RC students must have sufficient strength, motor coordination, and manual dexterity to:

• Transport, lift, and transfer patients from a wheelchair or cart to a patient bed or Gurney.
• Move, adjust, and manipulate various respiratory-related equipment, including the physical transportation of Ventilators, BiPap, Chest Oscillators, High Flows, and other respiratory-related equipment.

A.O.S. in RC students must also be capable of:

• Handling stressful situations related to technical and procedural standards and patient care situations.
• Providing physical and emotional support to the patient during procedures, responding to situations requiring first aid, and providing lifesaving emergency care to the patient without, or until, the physician arrives.
• Communicating verbally in an effective manner to direct patients during procedures and tests.
• Visually recognizing anatomy on imaging reports.
• Reading and interpreting patient charts and requisitions for sonographic examinations.

 A.O.S. in RC students must have the mental and intellectual capacity to:

• Calculate and select proper technical factors according to the individual needs of the patient and the requirements of the procedure’s standards of speed and accuracy.
• Review and evaluate the patient diagnosis based on laboratory data and make appropriate suggestions to the medical staff to improve the overall impression of the patient.

The following requirements must be met for a student to graduate from the Respiratory Therapy program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts:

• The successful completion of all program courses and hours.
• All financial obligations have been met, including tuition and textbook charges.
• The student must complete and verify the minimum clinical competencies in the lab and clinical setting defined by the course syllabi and log into the Clinical Trac software.
• Students must have acquired an Associate Degree from a CoARC Accredited program before being able to sit for the RRT exam.