10/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/23/2024 08:35
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
NORTHEAST IOWA-Each fall, Northeast Iowa Community College students and faculty celebrate Respiratory Care Week to spotlight these dedicated professionals who provide vital support and care for patients grappling with lung and heart diseases. From navigating the complexities of ventilator management to leading crucial educational initiatives, respiratory therapists are on the front lines, ensuring that every breath counts.
"A Respiratory Therapist (RT) is a crucial member of the healthcare team trained to treat people with lung and heart diseases. They treat patients dealing with pulmonary distress due to complications from asthma, bronchitis, COPD, pneumonia, chest trauma, prematurity, COVID-19, RSV and many more," said Amy Rausch, NICC Respiratory Care program director.
What Do Respiratory Therapists Do?
Because respiratory therapists are in high demand in northeast Iowa and the region, the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) has awarded a $10,000 scholarship to NICC to help students with the cost of textbooks, travel expenses for clinicals and board examinations after graduation. Scholarships provide critical support for healthcare students at NICC, said Anna Berns, Executive Director of Advancement.
"Scholarships are a critical part of student retention and success. Recent financial aid data shows that 59 percent of students at NICC worry about paying for school. These scholarships help our RT students successfully graduate and enter the local workforce," Berns said.
If you would like to set up a job shadow in Respiratory Care, please contact Amy Rausch at 844.642.2338, ext. 2274, or [email protected].