Articles by: Heather Willden

January 2, 2019

Keeping Your Cool in a Busy Emergency Room

Emergency departments live up to their name — they truly are places of last resort for patients suffering from everything from severe asthma attacks to life-threatening injuries. Respiratory therapists are part of the team and they must remain calm under pressure. Chaos is common As a respiratory therapist at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, MA,... Read more »

 Heather Willden

January 2, 2019

Surviving Budget Cuts

Budget cuts at work will likely happen at least once in your professional career. AARC Members Dana Evans, MHA, RRT, RRT-NPS, Cheryl A. Hoerr, MBA, RRT, CPFT, FAARC, and Kim Bennion, MsHS, RRT, CHC, share their tips and experiences to help RTs and managers survive and thrive through budget cuts. Survival tips Make a plan:... Read more »

 Heather Willden

December 26, 2018

The AARC Current Topics Series: A Great Way to Provide Continuing Education

The AARC Current Topics DVD series is a great way for respiratory care managers to offer CRCE hours to their staffs. These programs are designed with frontline staff in mind and can provide a wealth of information on cutting-edge topics that staff may not otherwise be exposed to. Check Out Current Topics 2018 But the... Read more »

 Heather Willden

December 26, 2018

Career Pathway Program Eases Transition to Bachelor’s Degree Completion

Tina Siddon, second from left, looks on as her students practice their RT skills in the lab.” Madisonville Community College in Madisonville, KY, is a great school that graduates competent respiratory therapists. Faculty are passionate about blending high expectations, student support, and innovative technology — including high fidelity interprofessional simulation — to create graduates who... Read more »

 Heather Willden

December 18, 2018

Recent Grad Wisdom

Transitioning from classroom to practice can be tough for a recent grad, but preparation is a key to success. We asked recent respiratory care graduates what they wish they had known before graduating. Here’s their wisdom to pass along to our current students. Resources for Students Victoria Johnson What I wish I would have known... Read more »

 Heather Willden

December 18, 2018

The NBRC Video Series: What is the Continuing Competency Program?

https://youtu.be/c8TUbfoXx2E In this sixth featured NBRC video, Lori Tinkler, MBA, discusses the importance of maintaining your NBRC credential and the options available through the Continuing Competency Program. “Earning your NBRC credential is an important first step,” said Tinkler, CEO of the NBRC, “but changes in methodologies, technologies, and industry requirements require you to keep current... Read more »

 Heather Willden

December 18, 2018

Takeaways from AARC Congress 2018

AARC Congress attendees listening to the opening ceremony keynote presentation. The AARC Congress wrapped up earlier this month, and attendees went home with a wealth of information to put to work in their facilities back home. Congress 2018 Highlights AARC member Ashley Frerichs, BS, RRT, speaks for many Congress-goers when she says the meeting was... Read more »

 Heather Willden

December 18, 2018

ZDoggMD Delivers Memorable Message to AARC Members

Enable cookies to see embeded content. Following his presentation to a packed audience of AARC Congress attendees, Zubin Damania, MD, aka ZDoggMD, kicked off Big Ideas Theater 2018. He shares how his ZDoggMD persona was born as a way to rekindle his passion for patient care and inspire others. In his interview, Dr. Damania discusses... Read more »

 Heather Willden

December 12, 2018

Patient Safety Success Story

Baylor University Medical Center dramatically reduces instances of Failure to Rescue: Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression Article courtesy of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation Failure to identify and treat opioid-induced respiratory depression is unfortunately common with stories of patients found “dead in bed” in the hospital. That was the case for 12-year-old Leah Coufal. After undergoing successful... Read more »

 Heather Willden

December 6, 2018

AARC Good Press | December 2018

 Heather Willden