Educating Today’s Youth in a Career in Respiratory Therapy

The Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences hosted two Palm Beach County public schools to NSU’s Palm Beach campus. Both of these events were focused on educating middle and high school students about a career in respiratory therapy. Approximately 50 students from L.C. Swain Middle School and Inlet Grove High School, enrolled in Pre-Medical Sciences program through Palm Beach Public Schools who attended this year’s career event.

At the event the students developed experience performing CPR on a high-fidelity simulator, intubate mannequins with an artificial airway, listen to breath sounds, and check oxygen saturations. For the students it was a great opportunity to interact with NSU current Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy students who assisted at various stations. They all were extremely engaged, and everyone seemed to enjoy the overall experience.

The teachers from both programs stated how grateful they were for this opportunity, and how they would like to schedule this again as a potential annual event. The need for respiratory therapists amplified in the present-day Covid-19 crisis to engage and manage ventilators, which made this event more important and captivating for future career events to all who attended.