What is Respiratory Care?
Respiratory Therapy is the health care discipline that specializes in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function and health. Respiratory therapists apply scientific principles to prevent, identify, and treat acute or chronic dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary system. Their knowledge of the scientific principles underlying cardiopulmonary physiology and pathophysiology, as well as biomedical engineering and technology, enable them to effectively assess, educate, and treat patients with cardiopulmonary disorders. As a health care profession, Respiratory therapy is practiced under medical direction. Respiratory Care is specifically focused on the prevention, assessment, treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation, education, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system. Critical thinking, patient/environment assessment skills, and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines enable respiratory therapists to develop and implement effective care plans, protocols, and disease management programs.

Program Overview
The Associate of Science in Respiratory Care is committed to preparing students who are accountable and knowledgeable members of the Respiratory Care profession in an enhanced learning community and who partner with other health care professionals in planning and delivering high quality health care. The focus of program faculty and respiratory care students is to meet the future health care needs in southwest and central Louisiana. Our faculty is dedicated in preparing graduates to enter the workforce as registry-eligible therapists with the ability to be productive health care professionals in a culturally diverse society by contributing to their profession and dedicating themselves to life-long learning.

Degree: Associate of Science in Respiratory Care

Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care

Links to Information

Top Reasons You Should Come to Our Program

  1. Faculty are leaders in the respiratory therapy profession and currently work in the field to retain all necessary skills as registered respiratory therapists.
  2. Hospitals actively recruit our graduates for employment and are well satisfied with their knowledge base, clinical skills, and adaptability.
  3. 98% of graduates from the past 17 years passed the national board examination on the first attempt.
    • Since the inception of the new Therapist Multiple Choice (TMC) Examination in year 2015, all 81 graduates passed the TMC (100%).  79 of the 81 graduates passed this examination on the first attempt (98%) and 79 graduates passed at the higher-cut-score (98%).  To date (class of 2020), the national pass rate at the higher-cut-score is only 47%.
  4. Student to Faculty Ratio: 4 to 1
  5. Employment Rate (2002-2020): 100%
  6. Outstanding clinical experiences in all aspects of respiratory care - neonatal, pediatric, and adult care.
  7. Students prepare for clinical experiences in a large, well-supplied learning laboratory.
  8. Students are certified in all specialty courses upon graduation (Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation Program).
  9. Solid support for the program from the professional community in the Tri-Parish area.
  10. Financial aid available for eligible students.

Applications for the FALL Class will be available in T-104 after January 13, 2020. Check with your advisor or the LSUE Catalog to confirm eligibility before picking up an application