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Cardiopulmonary course becomes "A.P." class for 882nd TRG

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonnette Thompson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Attention focused and arm poised, a young Airman is learning to intubate a patient, run a ventilator and perform a spirometer test.

Someday, that same Airman, with little or no supervision, could be performing the same procedures on patients whose lives are in that Airman' s hands.

The cardiopulmonary course the Airmen-in-Training must take to qualify for such a high-pressure job has recently been upgraded to an advanced-level course. Initially an entry-level course for the AiTs, the course' s instructors submitted a plan to allow graduates of the course to be ready to take the registered respiratory therapist exam. 

Started in 1988, the two-phase program earned its entry-level status from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. With the entry-level accreditation, AiTs would be eligible to become certified respiratory therapists after completing the course, but would still need another two years of experience and training before becoming eligible to take the registered respiratory therapist exam.

With the new advanced-level accreditation, the RRT exam is right around the corner for AITs who complete this course. Becoming an RRT better prepares the AiTs for the demands of the job.

"You have to come out of school ready to do the job," said Tech. Sgt. James Woods, education program director. The training allows for the Airmen to be the "go-to-Airman" on a deployment where they may be the only knowledgeable Airmen in the field.

Master Sgt. Shane Pearson and his team of instructors came up with the idea to beef up the course.

"I wanted to make the change because I wish it had been available to me," Sergeant Pearson said.

The course's criteria went through an overhaul in 2005, bringing it very close to CAAHEP's advanced-level standards. When deciding to apply, all Sergeant Pearson's team had to do was tweak a few things.

"Certain areas -- neonatal care, in-home care -- had to be broken up into their own blocks of instruction," he said. "But beyond that, it was easy. Most importantly, it didn't cost the Air Force anything. It takes the same amount of money and time to run this course as before, but now you get more credit."

Because of the students' 40-hour training weeks, Sheppard's program can be completed in just over a year. Similar programs in the private sector can take up to six years.