S CH O O L O F HE A LT H E D U C AT ION
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE Respiratory Therapy is a critical part of healthcare, but the U.S. faces a major shortage of qualified therapists.
Our Respiratory Therapy (RT) program may
lengths
be tucked inside two classrooms at the CVCC
therapists.
ValleySim Hospital, but this space is the
found interest in the RT program because of
center of big movement: training the next
personal experience living with or knowing
generation of qualified respiratory therapists.
someone in need of respiratory care. Some
“I think it’s important to advocate for the
Nikonya Godwin, Department Head of
students grew up with asthma and witnessed
right methods of RT,” she shares. “It really
CVCC’s
program,
the benefits of respiratory therapy from a
helps. You need to treat your patients as if
is an energetic leader who passionately
young age. Others had parents and family
they were your own mom, your brother,
encourages students to chase their calling,
members whose lives depended on proper
your cousin...and having empathy plays an
especially when it comes to respiratory
respiratory care and disease management.
important role.”
Respiratory
Therapy
to
retain Several
qualified of
CVCC’s
respiratory
chosen field and is always eager to share how
students
essential respiratory therapy is to the world of healthcare.
therapy. First-year student, Jaime, understood the life-
José, another first-year student, admits
Despite the rising demands for professional
saving impact of respiratory therapy while
that the Respiratory Therapy is not for the
respiratory therapists, RT programs across the
her grandfather lived beyond expectations
faint of heart—they learn to use needles
country continue to report low enrollment.
because
by practicing in-person on each other—and
This reality is concerning; it is taking great
treatment.
of
outstanding
pulmonary
students must take a unique course sequence while maintaining a B average or greater if
“When my grandpa got sick, his lung
they wish to complete the program and earn
function quickly deteriorated and he was
a degree.
placed in an induced coma,” Jaime says, full of emotion. “Professionals said he wouldn’t make the next couple of weeks. But the respiratory therapists who took care of him
what they were doing.”
RIGHT METHODS OF RESPIRATORY THERAPY.
To this day, Jaime is grateful for the
“The coursework does make a difference,
respiratory therapists who were able to
though,” Jose says. “Nikki and Amy are
extend her grandfather’s life. As Jamie felt led
good at seeing what our weaknesses are
to help others in similar scenarios, she grew
and pushing us...for those who are willing
determined to enter CVCC’s Respiratory
to take the initiative, [respiratory therapy] is
Therapy program. Now, a year into the
rewarding.”
were exceptional, and we had two more years with my grandpa, because they knew
degree, Jaime is full of confidence about her 18
FA LL 20 23
IT’S IMPORTANT “ITOTHINK ADVOCATE FOR THE
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