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How Respiratory Therapists Care for Residents

How Respiratory Therapists Care for Residents

Oct. 27th, 2022

Photo, left to right: Jennifer Cruz, Kylie Delaney

Respiratory Care Week is October 23rd-29th. This week is a time to celebrate respiratory therapists and all they do for those they care for.

To learn more about respiratory therapy and what Saber Healthcare’s respiratory therapists do for our residents, we talked with two Directors of Respiratory: Jennifer Cruz at Waterside Health and Rehab and Kylie Delaney at Centerburg Respiratory and Rehabilitation.

Cruz has been working as a respiratory therapist for nearly 13 years. She has experience working with patients in pulmonary, critical care, and long term care.

Delaney knew she wanted to be a respiratory therapist in high school after her personal health condition caused her to work with a respiratory therapist. That experience helped her to learn more about the field and encouraged her to help others who need respiratory care. She has experience working in the medical intensive care unit (MICU), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and long term care.

What is Respiratory Therapy?

Delaney and Cruz explained what respiratory therapy is and what they do for residents.

“Respiratory therapy is an area related specifically to pulmonary,” Delaney said. “We treat residents who have lung problems using methods such as breathing treatments, secretions, chest physiotherapy, cough assist, and suctioning.”

“Respiratory therapy is a conglomerate of things,” Cruz shared. “We take care of anyone with respiratory issues, whether it’s acute or chronic. We provide emotional support for those residents too. It can be hard to understand, but it’s very important in a lot of ways as far as helping someone breathe. It’s a very meaningful career because you have to be there in a lot of different ways for the resident.”

What Does a Day in Respiratory Therapy Look Like?

“As a director, I go to a lot of meetings, update processes, and improve the building overall. We’re all a team trying to do what’s best for the residents,” Cruz shared. “I have to ensure my staff is well taken care of and make sure we have the supplies we need. The main goal every day is to make sure the facility is doing its very best to take care of the residents.”

Cruz added that it’s all about teamwork. Her team takes the time to figure out scenarios and solve problems together because two heads are always better than one.   

“I always go and visit my residents to see if there’s anything we can do better,” Delaney stated. “I’ll look at equipment and scheduling, and always check on my team to make sure I’m there to help.”

Delaney said her team completes rounds each day to check on all the residents. Their respiratory therapy team performs daily tests, cleans equipment, and makes sure everything is up to date.

What is Your Favorite Part About Being a Respiratory Therapist?

Delaney and Cruz shared their favorite part about being a respiratory therapist, as well as the challenges they face in their positions.

“Seeing the residents daily and asking how they’re doing is my favorite part about my job,” Delaney shared. “It makes me feel good.”

Delaney mentioned the most significant challenge she has faced so far would be taking on the role as a director. She’s learned a lot, especially time management.

“The camaraderie with staff and residents is my favorite part about my job,” Cruz said. “In long term care, we see the residents every time we come in, and watching them get better is the most rewarding part.”

Cruz shared that her biggest challenge is to ensure that she delegates tasks to people because it can be difficult to not be able to oversee all processes at once.

Advice for Aspiring Respiratory Therapists

Cruz and Delaney also shared some advice for anyone who may be aspiring or interested in becoming a respiratory therapist.

“Remember that every resident is different, and learn how to listen very well,” Cruz said. “Be able to give people grace and compassion, because respiratory patients have tough days.”

“Try to take time out of your day to know your residents and don’t forget why you joined the field and why you love what you do,” Delaney shared.

Saber Healthcare Appreciates our Respiratory Therapists

Saber Healthcare appreciates all our respiratory therapists that work hard each day to meet our residents’ respiratory needs. If you know a respiratory therapist, be sure to thank them this week and celebrate all that they do! 

Saber Healthcare is an organization that provides services to more than 115 buildings across the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Delaware, and Florida. To learn more about our company and services, click here.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long-term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.