Respiratory Care
Wilmington Campus

As a Respiratory Care Practitioner, you'll specialize in the management, treatment and evaluation of patients who have problems breathing. You could work as a member of a critical care team, helping people with potentially life threatening lung disorders such as pneumonia, emphyzema or asthma. You'll choose whether to work with patients in hospitals, clinics or home settings. In the Respiratory Care Program, you'll work in a hospital with experienced professionals to learn techniques critical to the improvement of the patient's health.

You'll learn

How to make patients more comfortable
To assess patients' respiratory needs
Comprehensive patient evaluation and care
Subject matter covered on national certification examinations
Additional knowledge, skills and abilities essential to your success on the job

You'll earn

An excellent salary usually starting at $32,000 per year or higher
The opportunity or a flexible work schedule - part or full time, shift work or weekends
A choice of work environments including hospitals, health care facilities and home health services
Good potential for career advancement in health care or industry
A respected position as a specialist on the medical care team
The ability to be independent in your daily activities

You'll succeed

More than half of all new jobs created require education beyond high school.
Employees with degrees have better chances for promotion.
Associate degree holders generally earn 25% more than high school graduates.
College credit or advanced placement may be given for relevant work experience.
Many credits from an Associate Degree can be applied toward a Bachelor Degree.

Delaware Tech operates on a semester system with new sessions in late August and mid-January, plus summer sessions beginning at the end of May and in mid-June. Non-technology courses are able to be taken on a part of full-time basis during any semester or the summer session. Some students may need refresher courses at the basic or pre-tech level; others may receive transfer credit for prior educational experiences. Counselors and advisors are available to help you schedule your courses.

Respiratory Care Technology is available to students meeting the minimum admission criteria through a competitive selection process. Technology courses are only open to students who have been selected to enter the technology. These courses are sequential and are offered only one time per year. People interested in entering Respiratory Care Technology must attend an Allied Health Information Session prior to initiating the process for admission into the technology. Reservations for these sessions may be made by calling 888-5288.

Technical Courses

Intro to Patient Care introduces the basic techniques of working in patient care.
Intro to Respiratory Care introduces the student to the delivery of respiratory care, with emphasis on principles of gas flow, pressure regulation, production and storage.
Pulmonary Physiology addresses normal structure and function of the human respiratory system, including mechanics of breathing, gas exchange and transport, acid-base balance and control of ventilation.
Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care furthers the student's understanding of neonatal and pediatric disease and effective delivery of respiratory care to these patients.
Special Topics in Respiratory Care presents advanced concepts in respiratory care associated with critically ill patient support.
Respiratory Care Procedures I & II give the student the knowledge necessary to effectively administer basic respiratory care modalities and more advanced respiratory care techniques associated with artificial airways and mechanical ventilation.
Pulmonary Pathophysiology I & II introduce the student to evaluation of the patient with pulmonary disease and patterns of restrictive lung disease.
Cardiovascular Monitoring gives the student knowledge of underlying coronary disease processes, therapeutic measures and electrocardiographic interpretation used to treat the cardiac patient.
Physics for Respiratory Therapy focuses on the content appropriate to the practice of respiratory therapy, including emphasis on flow, gas laws, volume and other related topics.
Pharmacology presents the basic groups of pharmaceuticals used in health care including their physiologic interaction within the human body.
Pulmonary Pathophysiology I , II& III allow the student, under supervision, to apply knowledge of respiratory care from the basic to the most advanced techniques and modalities in a patient care setting.

Support Courses

How to apply for admission

Tuition, Books, and Fees

Questions? Call (302) 888-5288 or send email to info@dtcc.edu