AARC Sleep Section chair Marilyn Barclay shares how RTs can benefit from joining the Sleep Section.
By Marilyn Barclay, BSRT, RRT, CPFT
March 8, 2016
Daylight savings time starts on Sunday, and that means RTs and everyone else will be losing a precious hour of sleep this weekend. The National Sleep Foundation uses this annual rite of passage to draw attention to sleep-related issues through its Sleep Awareness Week.
But here at the AARC, we work on sleep issues all year long, most notably through our Sleep Specialty Section.
Whether you work in a sleep lab now, are thinking about making the transition, or just want to learn more about this exciting area of respiratory care, the AARC’s Sleep Specialty Section is a great place to network with like-minded peers. As chair of the section, I can tell you can we have a vibrant group of professionals who are dedicated to improving the testing, diagnosis, and treatment of people with sleep-related disorders.
AARC Resources for the Sleep RT
The AARC has lots of great resources to help. Here are just a few:
Clinician’s Guide to PAP Adherence: A web-based continuing education program that features the latest scientific evidence on improving our patients’ compliance with positive airway pressure therapy. It’s free to AARC members and carries 4.0 hours of CRCE credit.
Clinical Practice Guideline on Polysomnography: Developed in conjunction with the Association of Polysomnography Technologists, this can help guide practice in our facilities.
Sleep Disorders Specialty Examination: The NBRC launched a specialty examination for respiratory therapists performing sleep disorders testing and therapeutic intervention. By earning the “SDS” you’ll be demonstrating your expanded skill set to your facility.
Over the past year, the Sleep Section has worked hard to build on our accomplishments by conducting an online survey aimed at identifying the clinical, educational, and business concerns of its members, and this year we’re doubling down on efforts to clarify goals for our section, build membership and engage members, and build consistency in our leadership.
If you work in the exciting specialty of sleep, please join the AARC Sleep Section today and join us as we work to ensure more people with undiagnosed sleep disorders get the testing and treatment they need to get a good night’s rest.
For Current Sleep Section Members
Already a member of our Sleep Section? We’re asking all our Sleep Section members to use this opportunity to get more involved in our AARConnect discussions. I’ve recently started a discussion on what you’re doing during Sleep Week, and I’d love to hear your feedback.
Join the Sleep Section Conversation
Email newsroom@aarc.org with questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.
