ACONHP Launches Respiratory Care Program
Aug. 14, 2023
Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392
FLORENCE, AL – The Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions has received provisional accreditation approval from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) to begin enrolling students for Fall 2023. The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care, or the BSRC, is the first non-nursing clinical degree offered with the College.
“We are eager to support our respiratory therapy colleagues as we embark on the launch of this crucial program,” said Dr. Tera Kirkman, Dean of the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. “With a rich history of innovation and academic excellence, we are determined to establish a similar reputation of excellence for our health professions program.”
The BSRC program was established in direct correlation to workforce demand, according to Kirkman.
“With an average of 200 openings for respiratory therapists in Alabama annually, and two local hospitals reporting over 20 vacancies in 2021, the BSRC is poised to address this pressing need,” she said. “Upon completion of the four-year program and after passing the certification exam, students will be eligible to work as registered respiratory therapists.”
Already, the addition of the program is proving beneficial to nursing students and respiratory faculty, Kirkman said.
“By working together in simulated scenarios, they gain valuable insight into each other’s roles and expertise, fostering mutual respect and understanding,” she said.
Jabril Diamond has been brought on as the Lecturer and Program Coordinator for Respiratory Care. She said that, in addition to being the first non-nursing clinical degree offered in the program, the BSRC is only the second Respiratory Care program in Alabama.
“This program will not only lead to more interprofessional education on our campus, but also more interprofessional collaboration in local hospitals,” Diamond said. “We are excited for what this program will mean for our students, patients, and community.”
About The University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering credential, certificate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs in the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. The first-choice University for more than 10,000 on-campus and online students, UNA is on a bucolic campus in Florence, Alabama, part of the historic and vibrant Shoals region. Lions Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I’s ASUN Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: www.una.edu and www.una.edu/unaworks/