It's March and that means that a lot of respiratory
care students are looking to make the transition from student to
graduate to professional. Even though I graduated a long, long time ago
(in a galaxy far, far away), I remember the uncertainty of that
transition. Will I pass my finals? Where will I get a job? How do I know
I'm taking care of my patients properly? And...drum roll, please...will
I pass my NBRC board exams?
"Mind what you have learned. Save you, it can." ~Yoda
First,
it is important that you take a deep breath and remember your
education. You've spent countless hours studying, learning, and
practicing your skills in the lab and clinic environments. Don't
discount your experiences and the skills you've developed. To be an
effective and safe practitioner, you must learn to trust yourself and
your education...and to never be afraid to ask for help. We're all in
this together.
In a very close second is to remember that you
are not done learning. Too many times, graduates leave their respiratory
care program thinking that they have learned everything there is to
know about respiratory therapy. The sheer volume of knowledge for
respiratory therapists is far too vast to learn in 18-24 months. I
guarantee you will learn at least one new thing every day from your
peers, your mentors, your allied health/nursing/physician colleagues,
and (most importantly, I would argue) your patients.
"Do or do not. There is no try." ~Yoda
The
next hurdle is your board exam. My frequent piece of advice to all new
grads is to take those tests ASAP. The longer you wait, the harder they
will become. The tests are based on evidence, not one hospital's
clinical practice. That means that your book knowledge is very
important. Your college has likely started to prepare you by mandating
NBRC self-assessment exams while you were in school. How did you do? Did
you look at the NBRC matrix results for your self-assessment attempt
(if you didn't, go now to your educator and ask if they can retrieve
those results for you)? Do you have a weak area (less than 70%)? Study
those areas! There are products out there to help you study if you feel
that you need an extra boost. The AARC has an Exam Prep program that's
pretty cool. (www.aarc.org/education/exam_prep/)
Now...let's talk
about finding a job. I hope that you made a good impression in your
clinical rotations. You know...show up on time, look neat and
professional, have a positive attitude, smile, not talk trash about
others (fellow students, RTs, your teachers, patients, etc). Those
clinical sites have been watching you since Day #1 and evaluating your
potential as an employee. Are you a good fit? Do you know your stuff?
Does the staff respond positively to you? Could you be a positive
addition to their team? Are you good with patients? The job market is
tight in some areas while there are other areas of the country where
there are tons of job openings. Getting a job may be easy for you or it
may be difficult. The point is to make sure you set yourself ahead of
the crowd. What makes you special? No, seriously...what makes you so
special that the manager should give YOU the job instead of someone
else? In addition to the questions above, are you motivated? Did you
take the time and effort to earn a specialty credential from the NBRC?
Do you have a current BLS, PALS, NRP, or ACLS certification? These
things don't guarantee a job but they can differentiate you from other
applicants. Also, sometimes it isn't about technical skill but about
"soft skills." The AARC's Career News on March 24 published a great
piece on soft skills titled "Image is Everything." Read it. Really.
http://www.aarc.org/career/career_advice/tips_for_new_grads/image.cfm
"Always pass on what you have learned." ~Yoda
Lastly,
don't let your newly graduated, credentialed, and employed self lose
track of professional growth. Attend conferences, earn continuing
respiratory care education, network at state society events, become
involved in legislative events, and make yourself educated on the issues
faced by the profession. Volunteer for your state respiratory care
society. Know your state licensure requirements and your NBRC continuing
competency requirements. Become a mentor to others. Know how YOU can
make a difference for your patients and your profession. One of my
colleagues put it nicely: "Each and every RT, each and every day, has
ownership in this profession's future."
Congratulations to all students on the upcoming graduations! We look forward to welcoming you all into the profession.