LCC Respiratory Therapy Students Earn 100% Pass Rate

Parsons, KS- The Labette Community College Respiratory Therapy program has a long history of excellence in health-care education. Since the beginning of the program in 1984, over 300 respiratory therapists, or RT’s, have graduated and taken Certified Respiratory Therapy Exam held by the National Board of Respiratory Care to become registered respiratory therapists. 100% of LCC respiratory therapy graduates seeking employment in that field find job placement.

The graduating 2016 Respiratory Class earned a 100% pass rate on the Certified Respiratory Therapy Exam. The national average for passing the National Board for Respiratory Care board exam is 78-80%. For the past four years, LCC students have not only surpassed this average, but also exceeded it. In fact, this is the second time in four years our program has achieved a 100% pass rate.

This exam is a difficult one to pass because RT’s are specialized in the heart and lungs, and must know how those organs affect the rest of the body. That means respiratory therapists need to know exactly how the heart works, the medications that affect it and how. RT’s also have to understand all the diseases that could affect the heart and lungs. They are responsible for knowing how to take care of heart attack victims, stroke victims, drowning victims, moving vehicle victims, and drug overdose patients, as well as those with COPD and asthma, just to name a few.

The LCC RT department has made changes over the past few years to help reach the goal of achieving a 100% pass rate. “The student success is a result of having a determined faculty, a state of the art simulation area, and valuable partnerships with clinical sites. We have made constant improvements on classroom management and lesson planning over the past four years,” said LCC Respiratory Therapy Director, Kara Good. “In addition, since being in the Zetmeir Health Science Building, we have instituted more simulations to improve the hands-on learning, by means of the simulation lab and much improved laboratory area.”

Furthermore, LCC has added clinical site affiliations to allow students greater opportunities for learning, as well as job placement. As the students attend clinical rotations they are deciding whether the hospital is a good fit for them; at the same time, the hospital is evaluating whether the student would be a valuable employee. The more clinical sites our students attend, more learning experiences they receive, and the better the chances of finding the perfect job upon graduation. Students also take classes in on how to write cover letters, resumes, and successfully conduct job interviews to further prepare students to successfully obtain a job.

The field of respiratory therapy is a growing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of Respiratory Therapy is expected to grow by 12% in the next eight years. The LCC respiratory therapy department can accept up to 25 students into the program. Students must complete certain prerequisite courses and an application for admission into the program. The median yearly salary in southeast Kansas and surrounding area is between $37,000-$40,000.

For more information about the LCC Respiratory Therapy program, contact Hannah Jack at hannahj@labette.edu.