McHenry and Stover receive grant from respiratory care org

Kristen McHenry, assistant professor and director of the Master of Science in Respiratory Care program, and Camille Stover, clinical associate professor and director of the pre-license Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care program, have received a Vision Grant from the American Association for Respiratory Care.

The Vision Grant supports research focused on the clinical and economic impact of respiratory therapists, aligning with the organization's mission to secure the highest quality care for patients with cardiopulmonary disease.

McHenry and Stover's study centers on respiratory care managers and department directors across the country. By gathering their perspectives, the researchers hope to better understand whether advanced degrees among respiratory therapists contribute added value in clinical settings.

"We know that in nursing, patient outcomes are positively impacted by the education level of the practitioner," McHenry said. "We would like to contribute to the knowledge of how this could also be true for the respiratory care profession."

Respiratory care is a relatively young field. It began as inhalation therapy in the 1950s, when most practitioners were trained on the job. Over time, educational pathways expanded to include certificate, associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs. Despite that evolution, the profession has not consistently documented the measurable value advanced degrees may bring to hospital systems.

"Although we have grown significantly in our practice and as a profession, respiratory care has not been able to explicitly demonstrate the value that these advanced degrees bring to hospital systems," Stover said.

The team is currently conducting qualitative interviews with respiratory care managers and directors nationwide. Those interviews will inform the development of a broader survey to be distributed to a larger group of leaders in the field.

By combining qualitative and quantitative data, McHenry and Stover aim to identify themes related to hiring, promotion and leadership opportunities for respiratory therapists with advanced degrees. They also hope to explore how education level may intersect with patient outcomes and system level decision making.

Findings from the study could influence workforce development and curriculum planning within respiratory care education programs. As higher education institutions and accrediting bodies continue to evaluate entry level degree standards, research documenting the impact of advanced education may help guide those decisions.

The project reflects Boise State's leadership in respiratory care education. The School of Respiratory Care Sciences offers a pre-license bachelor's degree, an RRT to bachelor's degree advancement program and a Master of Science in Respiratory Care program. An MSRC student is serving as a research assistant on the grant, gaining hands-on research experience while contributing to the profession's body of knowledge.

"We are humbled by the opportunity entrusted to us and grateful to work with such an amazing team," McHenry and Stover said. "We hope to provide documentation of the value that respiratory care practitioners bring to the bedside every day."

As health care systems continue to evolve, the study seeks to clarify how advanced education may shape the future of respiratory care nationwide.

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