Perspectives Winter/Spring 2018

Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences 27 neonatal/pediatrics, and the use of high-fidelity simulation. In particular, training on simulators enhanced their critical- thinking skills in assessment and treatment recommendations. Learning experiences in the simulation environment allowed them to make direct correlations to the patients they cared for in the hospital. Dedicated courses provide PCHCS graduates a strong foun- dation in research that will help them make effective changes within the health care community. They learned didactic methodologies and completed projects that taught and honed skills to be future leaders and educators within the profession and community. Throughout these involvements and their clinical educational experiences, the students received outstanding accolades on their preparation for their clinical rotations, their knowledge base, and their enthusiasm to participate in new experiences and care for their patients. The students trained at 11 different hospitals and outpatient sites, completing approximately 1,200 clinical hours. Work with Patients As part of their clinical rotations, the students provided acute, emergency, and critical care. They worked with preceptors in medical, surgical, cardiovascular, pediatric, and neonatal intensive care units. In addition, they had the opportunity to work with, educate, and provide care for pulmonary rehabilitation patients and perform pulmonary function testing to assess the severity and progression of pulmonary diseases. The clinical sites and their preceptors welcomed the chance to work with the students. In addition to the students’ academic and clinical experiences, they obtained certifications that increased their marketability to potential employers. The additional certifications included basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, and neonatal resuscitation. By receiving these certifications during their academic training, they are able to highlight these additional skills as they apply for positions within their communities. To assist the students in passing the two national exams required to obtain their state license to work in the field of re- spiratory care, the Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences provided the students Kettering National Seminar exam preparation to enhance their test-taking skills. Due to the quality of performance of the students in the clinical setting, the extra certifications acquired, and the depth and extent of their academic training, all the students received unofficial job offers pending completion of the two national board exams. Because of the vast range of levels of care, many of the students found the journey as rewarding as it was tough. The depth and breadth of respiratory care was far more extensive than many of them thought it would be, or could have imagined, and all are enthusiastically looking forward to their careers. ● From left: Muhned Talal A. Aljaizani, Yahia Homood A. Hedaisy, Anishka Russell, Leante Antonique Williamson, Lidy Telsaint, Sheila Leo, and Nathalie Josma