Is a Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Care Worth it?

Is a Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Care Worth it? Should the Minimum Entry into the Field Be Changed from an Associate to Bachelor’s Degree? Name Institution Is a Bachelor's Degree in Respiratory Care Worth it? Should the Minimum Entry into the Field Be Changed from an Associate to Bachelor’s Degree? The minimum entry level to a respiratory therapy profession is an associate degree. However, this has raised concerns as to whether professionals with associate degrees deliver quality services to patients. The same concern has raised questions as to whether the minimum entry level should be changed from an associate degree to a bachelor degree. Answering the question requires a research on the topic to determine the current status of the workforce, advantages and disadvantages of an advanced degree, and the overall impact on the workforce. An associate degree provides the necessary knowledge for respiratory care delivery which is in contrary to bachelor’s degree that allows the respiratory therapist greater financial stability, opportunities for career advancement, academic achievements, and medical competence. Advanced Degree Achievement in RT and the Current Status of the Workforce The minimum qualification for a career in respiratory therapy was initially an associate degree. On 5th of January 2016, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) revised its position statement which requires every program that applies for accreditation to award at least a baccalaureate degree upon students’ completion of the degree and programmatic requirements. The emphasis of this position statement is to allow the AARC to continue with the accreditation of existing associate degree programs which meets the standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). As a result, educational programs and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) have called for higher educational standards to improve the quality of services offered to patients and to retain the profession (‘’Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care,’’ 2019). The minimum requirement of an associate degree lowers the safety and effectiveness of patient care as there are new illnesses which are emerging and needs greater levels of knowledge regarding the illnesses to develop a better and effective treatment approach. The increase in the quality of medical services and an effective treatment approach require improved knowledge and skills which can only be achieved through additional avenues of professional growth (Zimmerman, Woolf & Haley, N.d). At this time, Respiratory Therapists (RTs) remain at the same level after obtaining employment with the minimum requirement of an associate degree. In response to the increased demand for quality healthcare, the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) works to ensures quality educational programs which will guarantee competent respiratory therapists (McHenry, 2017). Qualified individuals should be able to conduct enough research and provide quality services to patients. The CoARC has developed accredited programs which prepare students to effectively complete the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) examinations. The CoA...