It's no secret that I love Respiratory Care Week. I've worked at several facilities over my career and I have enjoyed a robust Respiratory Care Week at all of them. Over the years, I've taken this for granted. We're respiratory therapists. Why wouldn't we celebrate OUR week? The AARC worked hard to get this week to be official and
President Reagan proclaimed this OUR week in 1982. My world view just didn't provide me with the experience to understand that not every department or every RT in the US celebrated Respiratory Care Week. It breaks my heart to see emails, blogs, Facebook posts, Tweets, and other communications about how no one in a certain facility celebrates our week. There are a number of potential reasons why a department manager would not celebrate this week; I won't speculate on the motivation of or challenges presented to any RT manager.
I want to take this moment to tell all respiratory therapists around the world that
you are appreciated. Whether your department manager has the budget to purchase gifts and food or not; whether your industry representatives have the budget, company approval, or hospital approval to bring food or not; whether anyone hangs a Respiratory Care Week banner or not;
you are appreciated. Your patients, their families, and colleagues depend on you for so much. In many cases, they just cannot imagine their world without you.
Even if no one else says it, you will have at least received three "Happy Respiratory Care Week" messages: one here from me,
one from the AARC, and one from the staff at the AARC (see pictures below). This week isn't really about food, gifts, banners, and balloons. It's really about recognizing the important contribution of respiratory therapists on the lives of our patients and the well-being of our communities. I hope your week has been productive and fulfilling and I wish you many more respiratory care weeks...and know that I will wish you a "Happy Respiratory Care Week" without fail every year until I am no longer able to do so.
For every single respiratory therapist:
Thank you for your dedication and investment in your patients and their families. Happy Respiratory Care Week!
