Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy

Keiser University’s Associate of Science degree in Respiratory Therapy prepares students for employment as respiratory therapists under the supervision of licensed physicians. A Respiratory Therapist provides education, diagnostic testing and respiratory therapy in the management of conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute cardio-respiratory failure, asthma, and other pulmonary pathologies. Graduates are eligible to take both the national certification examination and the national registry examination given by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and are eligible to be licensed by the State of Florida. Responsibilities of a respiratory therapist include:

• Identifying lung and breathing disorders and recommending treatment methods.
• Interviewing patients and doing chest physical exams to determine what kind of therapy is best for their condition.
• Consulting with physicians to recommend a change in therapy, based on patient evaluation.
• Analyzing breath, tissue, and blood specimens to determine levels of oxygen and other gases.
• Managing ventilators and artificial airway devices for patients who can’t breathe normally on their own.
• Responding to Code Blue or other urgent calls for care.
• Educating patients and families about lung disease so they can maximize their recovery.