Respiratory Therapists In Demand Following COVID
August 1, 2022
Katie Fillers
Respiratory therapists moved to the forefront of health care services during the pandemic.
Now, these practitioners are in short supply both locally and nationally. To meet
this need, Walters State has extended the application period for its respiratory care
program until Aug. 12.
“The need for respiratory therapists is critical,” Sara Smith, director of the respiratory
care program at Walters State Community College, said. “Respiratory therapists are
in high demand now due to a combination of factors. Aging baby boomers have increased
the need of respiratory care. At the same, some health care practitioners have left
the profession due to trauma related to COVID.”
Katie Fillers, like many people, didn’t know what a respiratory therapist does and
did not consider it as a career choice. She enrolled in Walters State with plans to
become a nurse like her mother. Then, a friend told her more about respiratory care.
After a day spent job shadowing a respiratory therapist, she changed her major and
graduated in 2021 with an associate of applied science degree in respiratory care.
“Many people think that respiratory therapists give breathing treatments,” Fillers
said.
“We do that, and we also do so much more. As a respiratory therapist, you’re in the
emergency room when a cardiac emergency comes in or when someone’s breathing has been
impacted by an accident. You play a key role in the recovery of patients in need of
critical care. You may assist a patient in surgery.”
Fillers entered the field at what many may consider a bad time – the height of the
pandemic when many COVID-19 patients found breathing difficult. Fillers said that
the intense training and experience made her a better caregiver.
“Working through COVID was definitely challenging, and there were several unfortunate
losses, but I can remember one special patient that did recover. She eventually was
able to speak again. She was so grateful to us for the role we played in her recovery.
We both celebrated together as it felt like a win for the both of us,” said Fillers.
The U.S. Occupational Handbook predicts that the country will need over 10,000 new
respiratory care therapists annually in the coming years. Walters State’s graduates
have a 100% job placement rate and a 100% pass rate on the National Board for Respiratory
Care exam to become respiratory therapists. Smith said graduates can expect to make
at around $40,000 in their first year. That does not include overtime, shift differentials
and other factors that increase pay.
For more information on Walters State’s Respiratory Care Program, contact Smith at
423-798-7964 or Sara.Smith@ws.edu. You can also visit www.ws.edu/academics/health/respiratory-care.
Requirements to enter the program are similar to the requirements of other allied
health programs including nursing and physical therapist assistant. Students with
those prerequisites can apply for this fall's program.
In the photo: Katie Fillers graduated from Walters State Respiratory Care Program
in 2021 and now works as respiratory therapist. Fillers said entering the field during
the pandemic gave her the opportunity to put her skills into practice immediately.