CHCS - Perspectives Winter/Spring 2016

COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES • 19 T he Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences kicked off the fall semester with the launch of its Profes- sional Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy Program, which comprises nine enthusiastic students from Saudi Arabia, the Bahamas, Haiti, Holland, and multiple locations within the United States. In the true diverse culture that NSU has been recognized for, each student brings a different background and perspective into the program. This diversity allows for constant learning, both inside and outside the classroom. The students, who attend four courses from Tuesday through Thursday, enjoy the con- densed schedule because it allows them to have additional free time on Monday and Friday for tutoring or extra practice in the labs. Their typical school week starts at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, when they learn about the fundamen- tals of respiratory care. In this course, the students are introduced to the history of respiratory therapy, then jump right into the physics and equipment that make up the foundation of respiratory care. If you pass by the Intensive Care Lab on Tuesday afternoons, you might see the students learning about oxygen devices or humidity and aerosols. On Wednesdays, the day begins with statistics, which prepares the students for conducting research in their upcoming course—Evidence-Based Practice. After lunch, they move into the Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology course, which might be considered one of the hardest in the semester. Thursdays mean it’s time for the Respiratory Care Basics and Patient Assessment course, which provides a strong foundation in head-to-toe assessment of patients. Some of the areas covered include vital signs, pulse oximetry, and arterial blood-gas analysis. Following the lecture, students can be found in the Physical Assessment Lab practicing manual blood pressures and listening to breath sounds on their lab partners. All of the courses flow together, creating repetition in material, which makes for a reinforced learning environment. When the semester concluded, the department and the students began preparing for inaugural clinical rota- tions, which began in January and involved the students being assigned to local hospitals for eight-hour shifts once a week to practice the skills they acquired in their first semester. Thanks to the clinical affiliation agree- ments the department has cultivated throughout South Florida, the students are guaranteed to obtain a vast level of experiences. As a new part of CHCS, the Department of Cardiopulmo- nary Sciences, it strives to provide a nurturing learning environment where all students’ needs are met. This goal will ensure that every student gains the knowledge and confidence required to be successful in the program, as well as in their careers. Seeing the development of this program come to life has already proven rewarding to everyone who participated in getting the department off the ground. ■ Professional B.S. in Respiratory Therapy Program Launches BY JENNIFER BENCSIK, M.A., RRT, INTERIM CLINICAL DIRECTOR, RESPIRATORY THERAPY PROGRAM