![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mockup-graphics-2WlwSXFw7Kk-unsplash-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Coordinated by seasoned professional and director of clinical education Ashley Kovalik, RRT-ACCS, Goodwin\u2019s Respiratory Care clinical opportunities prepare prospective respiratory therapists with the competence and confidence necessary to make a meaningful difference in their communities.<\/p>\n
Respiratory Care vs. Nursing \u2014 What’s the difference?<\/h2>\n
With over a decade of experience working in the field, Ashley Kovalik notes that respiratory care is often miscast under the umbrella of nursing. \u201cRespiratory therapists are often lumped in with nurses because there is some overlap in terms of their roles as supporters on healthcare teams,\u201d she explains, quickly highlighting the differences between these distinct professions. \u201cRespiratory care is close to nursing in some ways, but it\u2019s a much more highly specialized area of care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Due to their expert knowledge of lung and breathing difficulties, respiratory care specialists began garnering more limelight in the wake of the 2020 pandemic. \u201cRespiratory therapists are really coming out of the shadows post-COVID and being recognized for having a specialized knowledge that sets them apart from doctors and nurses,\u201d explains Kovalik. While both nurses and respiratory care specialists support healthcare teams across diverse settings, nurses perform a broader scope of caregiving duties. In contrast, the specific purview of respiratory therapists exclusively surrounds pulmonary medicine.<\/p>\n
With their understanding of all things respiratory, these professionals provide lifesaving care, such as:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Administering breathing gases tailored to individual patient needs<\/li>\n
- Diagnosing and treating lung and breathing problems<\/li>\n
- Evaluating patient progress<\/li>\n
- Educating patients about breathing conditions and treatments<\/li>\n
- Managing highly technical equipment such as ventilators and artificial airways<\/li>\n
- And more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protective-mask-5021416_1920-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA look into life as a respiratory therapist<\/h3>\n
Because respiratory care specialists must readily think on their feet, no two days on the job are the same. Likewise, respiratory therapy offers countless opportunities for career advancement. \u201cIt\u2019s a specialty job, so there\u2019s lots of room for growth,\u201d Kovalik offers. According to the American Association for Respiratory Care, respiratory therapists can pursue roles in management and supervision, private care, higher education, and even corporate positions in fields like marketing and equipment manufacturing.<\/p>\n
Beyond the breadth of opportunities at respiratory therapists\u2019 fingertips, it\u2019s never been a better time to take a deep breath and dive into this career path. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 13% increase in new positions<\/a> and a median annual salary of over $77,000, a future as respiratory care specialist offers job stability, financial security, and personal and professional fulfillment.<\/p>\n
A specialized career, a specialized education<\/h2>\n
Given the highly specialized nature of respiratory care, becoming a respiratory therapist<\/a> is rigorous yet rewarding, requiring an associate degree from an accredited program, 600 hours of clinical coursework, and successful completion of the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) licensing exam.<\/p>\n
Goodwin\u2019s history of preparing future respiratory care specialists to excel in the face of these challenges is tried and true. \u201cWe typically see a 100% job placement rate in our graduating classes,\u201d Kovalik highlights. \u201cIn winter, students graduating in our May 2024 class were already securing job placements.\u201d<\/p>\n
One reason Goodwin\u2019s Respiratory Care graduates enter the field as sought-after professionals is the comprehensive coursework they complete \u2014 developing their technical skills while honing the ability to make informed, real-time decisions.<\/p>\n
The trek to a career in respiratory care<\/h3>\n
As a 2-year associate degree program<\/a>, students spend the first semester equipping themselves with the basics. \u201cDuring their first semester, students have 3 classes to gain a background and build their schema for respiratory care,\u201d Kovalik says. \u201cThey learn the basics by getting to know the gases and gaining a background in pulmonary physiology.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kovalik emphasizes that Respiratory Care coursework<\/a> does require students to be adept at science and mathematics. \u201cThey will need to know how to calculate the pressures and volumes of gases based on different patients and their specific needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
She further notes that training isn\u2019t a matter of memorizing scientific facts and data. With robust skills in chemistry, biology, and mathematics, respiratory therapists must apply their professional training in a manner that extends beyond the factual and conceptual \u2014 calling on critical thinking and problem-solving to treat each and every patient.<\/p>\n
\u201cRespiratory Care students often find what they\u2019re learning in classes differs from their past experiences with math and science. It\u2019s less about rote knowledge and memorization and more about critical thinking. We focus less on the \u2018what\u2019 and more on the \u2018why\u2019,\u201d Kovalik explains. \u201cThey learn to address patients\u2019 needs by working with the information and facts at hand. We encourage them to apply their learning and critical thinking to the questions and issues they\u2019ll face in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/d28b056e-1277-4717-83d5-49e8880fd65e-225x300.jpg\")
“As a Registered Respiratory Therapist, Goodwin University provided me with the proper education I need to provide optimal care for my patients. Being a part of a multidisciplinary team allows me to work together with doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to improve the quality of life for our patients. I am grateful for the professors I had that worked tirelessly to support me throughout my journey. The respiratory care program provided me with the essential skills to perform the job I have now.” – Jade Nardi, RRT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n
Ready to jumpstart your journey to a rewarding career in respiratory care? Download your free Respiratory Care Get Started Guide<\/a> and learn more about earning your degree today!<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
One-of-a-kind clinicals<\/h2>\n
Respiratory Care students don\u2019t simply gain career-specific knowledge \u2014 they also must apply their learning in the field through 600 hours of hands-on clinical experience. \u201cWe begin assigning clinicals during the second semester of the program,\u201d Kovalik delineates. \u201cClinical offerings vary, ranging from sleep labs to home care rotations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kovalik notes that students ease into their fieldwork assignments. \u201cWe don\u2019t have students work in sensitive areas like pediatrics at first. They start by practicing fundamental skills in patient care at Hartford Hospital or in other special care settings.\u201d<\/p>\n
While fieldwork isn\u2019t a unique requirement for respiratory therapists in training, Goodwin takes a one-of-a-kind approach to clinical rotations \u2014 designing an educational experience tailored specifically to University students. \u201cWe don\u2019t send students off to work with the hospital staff. At Hartford Hospital, we have our own staff who are specifically dedicated to working with our students,\u201d Kovalik shares.<\/p>\n
She highlights the competitive advantage this model has compared to other Respiratory Care programs. \u201cStaff therapists can be too overwhelmed to dedicate time to training students. The 1-1 support we provide Goodwin students throughout their clinicals makes a difference,\u201d she notes. \u201cIt\u2019s less watching and more doing. They won\u2019t just be told to shadow someone, nor will they get sent home early by staff. They get extensive, hands-on, educational training.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Daschia-Bahler-RRT-225x300.jpeg\")
“I currently work at a level-one trauma hospital as a respiratory therapist. My career dreams have come true thanks to the education I received from Goodwin University. The support and resources from Goodwin’s incredible professors were key to my success in the field. Goodwin\u2019s Respiratory Care program has incredible professors who helped me every step of the way. Having their support and resources was a major part of my success in the program.\u201d – Daschia Bahler, RRT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Becoming a respiratory therapist at Goodwin<\/h2>\n
Although developing professional confidence takes time, Goodwin\u2019s program and immersive clinical experiences demonstrate an exemplary history of preparing budding respiratory care specialists with the knowledge and training they\u2019ll need in their careers. Ashley Kovalik emphasizes that the road to achieving a career as a respiratory therapist<\/a> isn\u2019t always easy but is achievable with commitment, a positive attitude, and a growth mindset. \u201cA lot of work goes in, but you should have no problem if you put in the time and effort,\u201d she reiterates.<\/p>\n
To make the most of your Respiratory Care education, Kovalik advises students to not only utilize faculty and staff as a resource but to build relationships with colleagues. \u201cIf you rely on your classmates, you can form study groups and help one another as fellow students.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Patrick-Houlihan-RRT-300x200.jpg\")
\u201cWhat helped me succeed at Goodwin University while I was studying was the continued support from my professors in the Respiratory Care program. The immediate availability of the directors, clinical educators, and professors made me feel connected and confident when challenges arose. I never felt isolated or alone in this program. I make it my duty to bring that same energy and dedication to patients and colleagues in my professional role as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.\u201d – Patrick Houlihan, RRT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n With unique fieldwork opportunities, expert instruction, and a supportive classroom environment, Goodwin sets itself apart as the perfect place to train as a respiratory therapist \u2014 garnering holistic, collaborative, and career-ready learning while preparing you to make a meaningful difference in healthcare.<\/p>\n