Associate of Applied Science in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science Program

Mission

The mission of Great Basin College’s AAS in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program is to provide an accessible, student-centered, post-secondary respiratory therapy education that prepares graduates for entry level respiratory therapy practice in a variety of structured healthcare settings. The curriculum integrates courses in respiratory therapy with general education requirements. Laboratory and clinical experience are offered at the college, local hospitals, long-term care centers, and community.

Application Deadline

Program Start: Spring 2025. Program Application due December 6, 2024.

AAS in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science with Programs in Elko, Winnemucca and Reno Locations

The Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program will 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).

Upon completion of the program, students are expected to:

• Provide safe, quality, evidenced-based respiratory care to patients in multidisciplinary healthcare settings.
• Exhibit professionalism and interpersonal communication skills in the healthcare setting when working with members of the interprofessional team, the patient, and the patient’s support persons.
• Use critical thinking to assess for, interpret, apply and evaluate relevant clinical information to care for patients in the role of a respiratory therapist.
• Demonstrate technical proficiency consistent with best practices in all the skills necessary to fulfill the role as a respiratory therapist.

Enrollment in the program is limited, and students are admitted only in the fall semester. Selection is made using a point system. Additional points will be awarded for veteran applicants and students in the CTE pathway program.

Non-respiratory therapy and pre-respiratory therapy students may not take any of the courses that begin with the CRS designation prior to admission to the AAS degree in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program. Students who have declared cardio-respiratory care as their major are designated as pre-respiratory therapy students. Students who have applied for and been accepted into the Associate of Applied Science in cardio-respiratory care program are designated respiratory therapy students.

Students who do not have an ACT or SAT score and who have not started the English and mathematics requirements, must complete the English / mathematics placement tests. There is no charge for this test, and it must be taken prior to enrolling in prerequisite courses. The placement tests are available at the Academic Success Center and at GBC centers. For more information and testing times, call 775.327.2247.

Year of Admission to the Associate in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science Program Determines Catalog Year and Course Requirements

Prerequisites to be completed prior to or during the semester in which application is made to the Associate in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program include:

Prerequisites

Course	Description	Credits
*BIOL 100	General Biology for Non Majors, or	3
*BIOL 190	Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology	4
BIOL 223	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
BIOL 224	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	4
BIOL 251	General Microbiology	4
MATH 120	Fundamentals of College Mathematics or	3
MATH 120E	Fundamentals of College Mathematics or	3
MATH 126	Precalculus I or	3
MATH 126E	Precalculus I or	3
STAT 152	Introduction to Statistics	3
	General Education Science Requirement*	3-4
	*BIOL 100 or BIOL 190 is a science department require- ment to be taken prior to or concurrently with BIOL 223.

The GBC AAS Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program will not recognize completed anatomy or physiology courses older than five years or repeated more than three times.

Questions about the AAS in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program or the application process can be directed to the department of Health Science and Human Services at 775.327.2317.

Admission

Admission to the Associate of Applied Science Cardio-Respiratory Care Science Program is a separate process from admission to Great Basin College.

College courses taken at another institution will be evaluated by the admissions and records office for transfer and acceptance. All courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited institution of higher education. All previous coursework must be submitted from the institution where it was completed as an official transcript. Transcript copies are not accepted.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have earned an Associate of Applied Science in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science. Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program graduates are eligible to take the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC).

Graduation from an accredited program is only one of the requirements and does not mean automatic licensure as a respiratory therapist.

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners requires all applicants for Respiratory Therapy licenses to answer screening questions. These questions address criminal convictions, discipline in another state, chemical dependency, and medical and mental health conditions. In addition, all applicants must submit their fingerprints for an FBI and State of Nevada criminal background check. For more information, visit https://medboard.nv.gov/ or call Toll Free: (888) 890-8210.

AAS in Cardio-Respiratory Program Requirements

Student must provide evidence of a satisfactory physical examination within the preceding six months, validating the following psychomotor requirements:

• Visual acuity, hearing ability, olfactory ability, and tactile ability sufficient to assess clients and their environments as well as implement care plans developed from assessments.
• Manipulate equipment necessary to assist in patient care. Fine motor skills must be sufficient to perform psychomotor skills integral for patient care.
• Lift and move individuals to provide safe care and emergency treatment. (50 pounds minimum)
• Strength and mobility must be sufficient to perform patient care activities and emergency procedures.
• Possess cognitive abilities to measure, calculate dosages, reason, analyze and synthesize.
• Behavioral ability to follow policies and procedures.
• Emotional stability to function effectively under stress, to work as part of a team and to respond appropriately to supervision.

Requirements for Application

• GPA of 2.0 or higher on any previous college coursework.
• Minimum grade of C or higher in any courses applied to the AAS Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program.
• Completed applications for both GBC and the Cardio-Respiratory Care Science Program must be received by admissions and records no later than 5 p.m., October 31st.

More detailed information about the admission process will be provided in the application packet. Student selection and admission is completed one time per year. Preference is given to GBC service area students. Applicants not selected for the program will not be carried forward to the next year’s program and must re-apply and meet the requirements prevailing at the time.

AAS in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science Course Requirements

In order to maintain good standing in the AAS in Cardio-Respiratory Care program, a student must:

• Maintain a minimum grade of C (e.g., 76% or better) in all respiratory therapy courses,
• Comply with requirements set forth in the Associate of Applied Science Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program student handbook,
• Attain a minimum grade of C or higher in any non-cardio-respiratory care course applied to the Associate of Applied Science Cardio-Respiratory Care Science degree.

Program Cost

Respiratory therapy students follow the fee schedule and refund policy described on page 68 of the GBC catlog. In addition to tuition there are other costs specific to the Associate of Applied Science in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science program.

These fees are subject to change. A differential fee is an additional fee for students enrolled in all AAS Cardio-Respiratory Care Science courses. Students in this program will also have a distance education fee that applies to IAV, online, and hybrid classes. An approximation of the additional expenses include:

• Textbooks and online access fees - $2,500.00
• Lab fees per credit - $90.00
• Uniforms, shoes, equipment, and supplies - $300.00
• Student Background Check and Drug Screening (required for clinical rotation) - minimum - $95.50
• Immunizations - $300.00
• Testing fee (NBRC Testing Center) - $200.00
• Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners licensing fee - $300.00
• FBI background check and fingerprints - $51.25
• Physical examination - Individual amount
• Health insurance - Individual amount
• Watch with a second hand - Individual amount
• Travel to clinical facilities - Individual amount
• Graduation uniform - $30.00 to $50.00
• Student AARC membership - $50
• Kettering Exam Seminar Prep - $345
• Platinum Planner - $70

Accreditation

Great Basin College offers an 18-month program leading to an Associate of Applied Science Cardio-Respiratory Care Science. Great Basin College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

The Associate of Applied Science in Cardio-Respiratory Care Science Program (CoARC program number 200672) at Great Basin College at the Elko, Winnemucca, and Reno locations 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 the 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.

View the public information disclosed by the CoARC regarding this program at https://coarc.com/students/programmatic-outcomes-data/.

Schedule an Appointment

For More Information Contact

Health Sciences
775-327-2317
E-mail: hshs@gbcnv.edu

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Why Great Basin College

Great Basin College, "The Gold Standard in the Silver State", offers associate and baccalaureate level education in academic, career and technical fields. Welcoming over 4,000 students annually from all corners of the country, both online and at our various campuses and centers, GBC's presence extends across two time zones and spans more than 86,000 square miles throughout Nevada. A leader in rural higher education, GBC takes pride in developing students who are well-prepared to meet the demands of industry and who contribute to the success and prosperity of the local economy.