PROGRAM OVERVIEW
| REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPIST to BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
About
The CPS Degree Advancement Program prepares students to:
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Enhance their practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapist
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Gain additional knowledge, additional knowledge, skills, and attributes in
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Leadership
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Management
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Education
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Research
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Advanced Clinical Practice
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With an already established educational foundation in respiratory care, the DA program graduate is prepared to segue into higher-level opportunities in leadership, management, education, research, and clinical practice and will align with the American Association for Respiratory Care “Entry to Respiratory Therapy Practice 2030” recommendation for minimum education of a respiratory therapist from associate degree to baccalaureate degree.
Graduates of the DA program become potential candidates for supervisory, educational, research, and administrative positions within the profession. Program graduates are also potential candidates to pursue graduate education in both Masters and Doctoral Programs.
The main goal of the DA Program is to provide graduates of entry into respiratory care professional practice degree programs with additional knowledge, skills, and attributes in leadership, management, education, research, and/or advanced clinical practice that will enable them to meet their current professional goals and prepare them for practice as advanced degree respiratory therapists. (DA3.1)
The overarching main goal of the LSUHS DA-ADT program is to increase the Registered Respiratory Therapist competency in the areas of management, leadership, research, education, and clinical care. To achieve this broad goal, the following program expected student learning outcomes (ESLOs) have been established. Students completing the BS in CPS DA-ADT program should be able to:
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ESLO 1 (Management): Develop and assess pertinent policies and/or procedures that affect patient care in the arenas of safety, quality, and productivity.
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ESLO 2 (Leadership): Recognize essential roles of leadership pertinent to patient care and professional practice.
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ESLO 3 (Research): Interpret core concepts of key research findings after critical appraisal of scientific literature (i.e., clinical practice guidelines, refereed journal publications)
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ESLO 4 (Education): Utilize the concepts of learning styles to implement educational programs in a clinical, academic, or non-traditional setting.
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ESLO 5 (Clinical): Formulate and/or appraise detailed treatment plans for patients with cardiopulmonary disease to enhance patient care and recovery.
The curriculum integrates introductory, developmental, and mastery-level assignments which meet the ESLOs outlined above.
Curriculum
The standard educational track consists of 50 hours of pre-requisite courses that can be taken at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university with an additional 70 hours of professional courses some of which would have been completed through the incoming student’s prior Associate level degree earned and the remaining hours to be completed at LSU Health Shreveport.
Students seeking to enter to the DA program must have completed a CoARC accredited associate degree (i.e., Associate of Science or Applied Science) and have attained their RRT credential through the National Board for Respiratory Care. The DA program is intended to provide a bridge for an Associate-degreed graduate working in respiratory care with an opportunity to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science after completing the necessary prerequisite coursework in addition to 30 hours of online DA program courses.
The curriculum is delivered in an 8-week semester format.
Semester 1 (6 total credit hours)
- CPSO 4200 – Issues and Trends in Respiratory Care - 3 credits
- CPSO 4205 – Introduction to Public Health - 3 credits
Semester 2 (6 total credit hours)
- CPSO 4210 – Interprofessional Healthcare & Practice - 3 credits
- CPSO 4220 – Respiratory Care for Special Populations - 3 credits
Semester 3 (6 total credit hours)
- CPSO 4180 – Professional Development in the Health Sciences - 3 credits
- CPSO 4230 – Culture & Ethics in Respiratory Care - 3 credits
Semester 4 (6 total credit hours)
- CPSO 4190 – Intro to Research & Statistical Analysis - 3 credits
- CPSO 4225 – Advanced Survey of Cardiopulmonary Disease and Diagnostics - 3 credits
Semester 5 (6 total credit hours)
- CPSO 4215 – Leadership Theory - 3 credits
- CPSO 4240 – Capstone - 3 credits
Total hours for degree: 120 (including 50 hours prerequisites)
NOTE: In that the above-listed LSU Health Shreveport courses form the professional component of the major, no grade below a C is acceptable. The coursework in any course in which the student receives less than a C must be repeated, and a grade of C or higher earned, before the sequence can be continued.
Course Descriptions
CPSO 4200: Issues and Trends in Respiratory Care
Asynchronous online course is designed to expose students to current and emerging topics within the respiratory care profession that influence clinical practice and overall policy within a variety of environments common to the respiratory care practitioner.
CPSO 4205: Introduction to Public Health
Asynchronous online course introduces students to the discipline and profession of Public Health. The foundations of public health, policies and/or procedures that affect patient care, the current status of the nation’s health, and environmental health and safety are presented.
CPSO 4210: Interprofessional Healthcare & Practice
Asynchronous online course promotes the development of skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to work effectively in interprofessional teams. Emphasis will be placed on effective teambuilding, respectful communication, and knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of members on a team providing patient-centered care.
CPSO 4220: Respiratory Care for Special Populations
Asynchronous online course emphasizing the needs of various and special populations across the lifespan. Course content includes social determinants of health and consideration for providing care to individuals with unique healthcare needs.
CPSO 4180: Professional Development in the Health Sciences
Asynchronous online course providing an overview of the various roles of healthcare manager/administrator and academic/educator with an emphasis on preparing the cardiopulmonary science student for various traditional and non-traditional employment opportunities in respiratory care.
CPSO 4230: Culture and Ethics in Respiratory Care
Asynchronous online course will overview ethical principles and professional codes of conduct along with ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals. Additionally, this course will emphasize the importance of effective leadership, particularly in healthcare, in an increasingly diverse culture.
CPSO 4190: Introduction to Research and Statistical Analysis
Asynchronous online course to overview the basic principles of research including IRB processes, research design, and review of the clinical research to support evidenced based medicine. Emphasis will be placed on basic statistical methods and analyses.
CPSO 4215: Leadership Theory
Asynchronous online course exploring an examination of leadership theories and principles as a foundation for decisive, ethical decision-making in the healthcare workforce.
CPSO 4225: Advanced Survey of Cardiopulmonary Disease and Diagnostics
Asynchronous online course designed for healthcare professionals offering an advanced exploration of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic techniques for a range of common cardiopulmonary conditions.
CPSO 4240: Capstone
Culmination project or experience after completion of the main program curriculum that seeks to reenforce and enhance key concepts, emphasizing the program ESLOs and one of the following tracks: management, leadership, research, education, or clinical.
Have Questions?
For more information about the Cardiopulmonary Science Degree Advancement Program, please contact LSU Online at lsuonline@lsu.edu.
