Respiratory therapists are an essential part of every health care team. They work with patients from newborn through hospice care, helping to manage a variety of breathing and airway problems. These problems not only include chronic conditions but can also involve people who need emergency respiratory care after accidents, heart attacks or strokes.
At Carrington College, we are proud of all our faculty and staff members, but we would like to share some thoughts from Brendon Becker, BS, RRT, the new Respiratory Care Program Director at the Carrington College Phoenix campus. How was he able to find success and build a rewarding career as a respiratory therapist? Find out by reading his story below.
Can you please tell us a little about yourself?
I am originally from New Mexico coming to Phoenix, Arizona by way of my service in the United States Air Force (USAF). My professional background has been service-oriented: as a veteran in service to our country, as a minister in service to the spiritual needs of my congregants, and as a respiratory therapist in service to the health and well-being of my patients.
How does your previous experience help in your new position?
My experience in respiratory therapy has largely been in pulmonary diagnostic testing and home care. Effective communication is a critical component to being successful in achieving accurate pulmonary function testing results. You must be able to direct and re-direct the patient to perform the tests properly.
In addition, success in-home care and achieving patient compliance in their prescribed therapies is often determined by quality patient education. Collectively, my experiences have prepared me as a leader, communicator, and educator.
How did you begin your career in Respiratory Therapy?
I developed an interest in teaching Respiratory Therapy after being responsible to deliver patient education to my home care patients. I experienced tremendous satisfaction in helping patients understand their disease process and the therapies they had been ordered to receive. I take a great deal of pride in being able to help people understand what is happening anatomically in their lungs, and how their prescribed therapy can improve their lives.
Can you please tell us a little about your career at Carrington College?
I first began my career at Carrington College in 2011 as an instructor. In late 2012, I went back to home care until returning to Carrington College full-time in 2015. In January of 2022, I became the program director. It has been a big transition for me as I am now responsible for oversight of the entire academic program, student success, developing and implementing retention strategies, as well as ensuring academic quality.
I believe I have been stretched and grown quite a bit professionally in these last few months. I am appreciative of the support I have received from the leadership team here in Phoenix. My goal has always been to help my students understand how important their chosen career is to the health and well-being of their patients and how much of a difference they can make when they deliver quality care. I enjoy teaching Respiratory Care and I love seeing the look on students’ faces when they “get it.”
The Respiratory Care program at Carrington College has a good, long-standing reputation in the metro Phoenix area. I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence established by my predecessors. Respiratory therapy has gained national attention because of the pandemic, and my goal is to provide our community and hospitals quality graduates who can continue to be on the frontlines providing excellent patient care.
Original source can be found here.
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