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<B>For LCC students breathing is hard work</B><P>
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<FONT SIZE=4><B>By Jenny Boggs</B><BR></FONT>Contributing Writer
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LCC's respiratory care program is breathing success.<P>
Literally. The program, coordinated by Jim Matchuny, is one of six two-year medical programs where degree-seeking students may earn an associate degree in applied science. These programs are preparation for the state and national certification exams.And prepare them it does. LCC offers one of the most successful respiratory care programs (RCP) in the country.
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Kara Glass, a first-year student from Georgetown, Ky., said, "The program has its intense moments and requires a lot of studying."
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LCC is well above the national pass average for both the Written Registered Respiratory Therapist Exam and the Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician Exam.
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Matchuny attributes this success to faculty with excellent credentials, strong clinical affiliations with local hospitals and the support of LCC administration.
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The RCP has a capacity of 48 students. Only 24 are accepted each year, though, with the average number of 30 students in the program.
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The RCP has an excellent student-professor ratio. With three full-time faculty and a fluctuating number of part-time instructors relative to the size of the program, the ratio is better than 10-to-1.
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Because of the "demanding and difficult program that requires serious adjustment in a student's personal schedule," Matchuny said, admission to the RCP is quite selective. Admissions personnel Christy Lancianese said students must have a 2.7 grade point average, an ACT score of 20 and usually some college experience.
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After completion of the RCP, the benefits become overwhelmingly obvious to these hard-working students.
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Four straight semesters of 70 credit hours reserved for physics, biology, anatomy, other sciences and clinicals prepare students for employment at hospitals, home health care, nursing homes and physician's offices.
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A starting base salary for a respiratory car practitioner is $11 to $12 an hour. LCC has a 100-percent job placement rate within the first six months of graduation. About 100,000 practitioners are employed today with an estimated need for 49,000 by the year 2005.
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"Money Magazine's" fourth annual career survey ranks respiratory therapists 13th in the Top 50 fastest growing, most desirable jobs.
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Aside from the financial security, Glass hopes her job will also be very fulfilling.
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Respiratory care practitioners use their "technical and scientific skills to match a real need for human relations." <P>
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<B>Photo: </B><B>BREATHE IN</B> Lisa Penn, a respiratory instructor demonstrates a procedure using a dummy.
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<B>CHAD THOMAS</B> Kernel staff<BR>
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