JUNE 1, 2007 | For the first time since a bachelor’s degree program in respiratory therapy was started at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in 1997, all 14 UAMS students taking a national credentialing exam passed on the first attempt, far surpassing the national pass rate.

Past classes have come close to a perfect pass rate and have traditionally scored ahead of the national average pass rate, said Erna Boone, chairman of the Department of Respiratory and Surgical Technologies in the UAMS College of Health Related Professions.

The 14 students who will graduate May 19 passed the written exam and clinical simulation to earn their registered respiratory therapist (R.R.T.) credential.  

The written part of the test is a 100 multiple choice questions. The national pass rate on that portion was 74 percent for those making their first attempt on the exam and 63 percent for all candidates – compared to the 100 percent pass rate for UAMS students.

The clinical simulation exam consists of 10 scenarios with a simulated patient where students must gather information and make decisions about treatment. The national pass rate on this section was 61 percent for first timers and 57 percent for all candidates – again compared to the perfect pass rate for UAMS students.

“The UAMS respiratory care program is fortunate to have a unique combination of outstanding talented and dedicated faculty, strong administrative and medical support and excellent clinical resources for its students,” Boone said. “I believe our graduates’ success on the credentialing examinations is the result of this unique combination of factors that come together to provide the greatest benefit to our students.”

Boone also noted that all 14 graduates have already accepted jobs in the Little Rock area. Respiratory therapy continues to be a highly in-demand job, she said, with employers offering student loan repayment and other incentive programs to attract new respiratory therapists.

The perfect pass rate for UAMS students further underscores the quality of the program, Boone said. That is important to the continued accreditation of the program, she said, as the Committee on Accreditation of Respiratory Care sets “threshold” values for passing the exams.

The UAMS respiratory care program includes tracks for both traditional and non-traditional students at several locations. The bachelor’s degree program is housed at the Veterans Administration Hospital in North Little Rock, the UAMS Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Texarkana and the University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville.  Laboratory and clinical instruction occur at each program site and are essential components of the curriculum, Boone said.

In fall 2006, the UAMS program had 66 students enrolled in various phases of the bachelor’s degree (B.S.) program. Additionally, there are about 10 students enrolled in a R.R.T.-to-B.S. degree completion program for practicing therapists who have already earned the R.R.T. credential but who also wish to earn a bachelor’s degree.  

Links on This Page

Department of Respiratory Care: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/respiratorycare/

College of Health Related Professions: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/default.asp

UAMS respiratory care programs: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/respiratorycare/program.asp

R.R.T.-to-B.S. program: http://www.uams.edu/chrp/respiratorycare/RRT_to_BS/RRT-BS.asp