STCC Respiratory Care students accepting job offers before graduation

Professor Scott Frink teaches students in the Respiratory Care program at STCC.

“Every time I got a respiratory distress call, I was fascinated by that, and wanted to learn more so I could do more to help people,” Feyre said.

After working as an emergency medical technician for two years, she applied to the Respiratory Care associate degree program at Springfield Technical Community College. Feyre, a Westfield resident in her second year, has been working with a limited license at Mercy Medical Center as she pursues her degree at STCC. She accepted a job at Mercy and plans to continue working there after graduation in May.

It’s not unusual for students in the program to field job offers before they get their degree, said Giuseppina “Josie” Znoj, director of clinical education and an instructor in the Respiratory Care Department.

“I think what we do here at STCC does set them up for great opportunities with medical facilities,” Znoj said. “We have great connections with managers and staff at facilities like Baystate Medical Center, Mercy and even some Connecticut hospitals.”

Scott Frink, department chair and assistant professor, said respiratory therapists play a vital role in healthcare but the public does not generally know about them or understand what they do.

“RTs have been in demand, especially recently during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Frink said. “We hear from healthcare providers who want to hire our students before they graduate. With the only Respiratory Care associate degree program in Western Massachusetts, STCC is a great place for anyone looking to get started in this rewarding career."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the projected job growth for respiratory therapists is 14 percent, or much faster than average between 2021 and 2013. The average job growth for all occupations is 5 percent, according to the BLS.

Respiratory Care at STCC prepares students from their first year. They spend time in the on-campus simulation lab, which includes simulation patients that respond to treatment. By preparing the students in the simulation lab, it prepares them to work with patients in the hospital setting. They have the skills to treat, manage, diagnose and care for patients with cardiopulmonary dysfunction.

It’s an exciting opportunity to not only get the job but to be in the atmosphere already. I’m getting to know the workplace and everybody there, and how everything works. Leann Rose, STCC Respiratory Care student

“Everything we teach them in class in the simulations with our patients here they can apply in hospital settings with their clinical instructors,” Znoj said.

As a student, Feyre said she appreciates working on the patient simulators, who can respond with emotions. The simulators are voiced by staff who work behind the scenes.

“They are able to talk to us through them. We’re able to go into the lab and treat them and talk to them like they’re a real patient,” Feyre said. “We put the masks on their faces. We are able to intubate and extubate them. We have a monitors that show their vital signs. Their chests move. You can listen to breath sounds. It’s really like having a real patient, and we are able to do pretty much every aspect of our job on them.

is great exposure for a lot of my classmates who have never been in the health field. Some have never had hands-on experience with the patient before.

Respiratory Care student Leeann Rose of Springfield came to the program without any prior experience in healthcare. A second-year student, Rose has a job lined up at Baystate, where she now works on a per diem basis with a limited license.

She was delighted to move quickly into the profession after starting the program at STCC.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to not only get the job but to be in the atmosphere already. I’m getting to know the workplace and everybody there, and how everything works,” Rose said. “It’s exciting to know you already have a spot lined up for the career you went into, and know it’s in demand. I like knowing I will be making a difference.”

STCC offers respiratory care students a valuable technical, hands-on education, Rose said. STCC is the only technical community college in Massachusetts and the most affordable higher education institution in Springfield.

Rose particularly appreciated training in the simulation lab. “I didn’t have any healthcare background before I came into the program, so it’s nice to be able to step in and have that conversation with the patient.

“The sims lab is great,” she added. “They give you different scenarios. It could be the perfect patient, or maybe someone on the borderline of crashing, or a kind of difficult patient. Any situation that comes up at the hospital will come up here first so you’re not going to be star struck when you walk into the room.”

Student Alex Velazquez of Springfield, also in his second year, said he is applying what he learns in the classroom to real life situations.  He was offered a job at Baystate, which he plans to start after he graduates and passes the board examinations.

“I think this program is a great way to start your career,” he said. “There are a lot of job opportunities right now.”

Watch a video of student Shaunna Feyre talking about the Respiratory Care program.

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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