Dear Selection & Admissions Committee:
Some people come across opportunity by chance, others by hard work, and others through a flash of inspiration. What is inspiration? Inspiration is the ability to breathe. By studying respiratory therapy, I will have the chance to help others breathe. Working in the medical field as a respiratory therapist could give me a wealth of opportunities in home care, clinical care, and physical therapy allowing me to truly make a difference in people's lives.
The field of respiratory care applies scientific principles to present, identify, and treat acute dysfunction of the cardiopulmonary system. Respiratory care therapists carry out physician's orders using specialized equipment, such as ventilators and pharmacological agents, to help restore normal lung function. Respiratory Care practitioners treat patients requiring emergency attention such as victims of heart failure, stroke, drowning, shock, and trauma as well as those who suffer from chronic respiratory difficulties such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis. A respiratory therapist is an indispensable part of the health care team, both in hospital and in home care settings. The primary goal of any respiratory therapist is to help a patient improve their ability to breathe comfortably, through a variety of medications, extensive equipment education of patients. There are diverse fields into which the respiratory therapist can enter, with most being employed by hospitals for in-hospital care. Many other therapists of this type may work in home care settings to help set up, maintain, and instruct people on using needed equipment or medications.
When I was young, I remember wanting to be a runner in the Olympics. I would watch the athletes travel with ease around the track and thought that maybe someday I might have that opportunity. Only one thing held me back, the fact that running made my lungs catch fire. I didn't understand that ...