RC Week: Rachel Jenkins on Versatility and Future of Respiratory Care

Rachel Jenkins, MSRC, RRT, RRT-ACCS, is a clinical instructor at Ozarks Technical Community College and a former Vice President of the Missouri Society for Respiratory Care. After an unexpected pivot from criminology and psychology to respiratory therapy, she has built a career spanning bedside care, education, and professional involvement.

In this Q&A, she highlights why teaching RTs is so enjoyable right now, the power of professional involvement, and the importance of celebrating the profession. 

What inspired you to become a respiratory therapist?

Becoming a respiratory therapist was a bit of an unexpected career change for me. I was originally studying criminology and psychology when I happened to Google “respiratory therapy.” I found out that my local community college offered the program, so I attended an informational session. It was a complete 180 degree from the path I had been on, but I started the program the following summer and discovered that respiratory care was the right fit for me.

Why is the work of respiratory therapists so important to patient care?

There really is no other profession trained quite like respiratory therapists. From day one, our programs teach us how to assess patients from head to toe and integrate what we learn in the classroom into hands-on care at the bedside.

We also receive advanced training in oxygenation, respiratory devices, and mechanical ventilation. That combination of assessment skills, hands-on care, and life-support training makes RTs an important part of any care team.

How has your experience as both a respiratory therapist and an educator shaped your view of the profession?

Having one foot in education and one foot at the bedside has given me insight into the day-to-day challenges RTs face while also acknowledging the work being done at the state and national level to address those challenges. Being an educator has given me the opportunity to become more involved at the state and national level and really the chance to appreciate the vast net that respiratory therapy casts.

What do you enjoy most about teaching the next generation of respiratory therapists?

Students today are incredibly inquisitive. They want to know why, not just what they should do. That pushes me, as an educator, to completely understand the underlying processes and explain them in depth, rather than simply telling students what to do. It keeps me learning, too.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing the next generation?

There is so much more access to online knowledge and different tools and study methods, which is an overall good thing. The challenge is translating that knowledge into practical bedside skills. The knowledge and access are there, but newer RTs will need to spend extra time developing hands-on skills and applying what they have learned to patient care.

What do you wish more people knew about respiratory therapy?

There is quite literally something for everyone in this field. If you don’t want to work in critical care, other options include sleep labs, pulmonary function testing, hospital education, and full-time education. You can also mix and match. Some of our part-time adjunct RTs at Ozarks Tech work full-time at the bedside and make time to teach our students! The profession’s versatility is unmatched.

Why is professional involvement important to respiratory therapists?

When I was involved with the Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, one of the most rewarding parts of being Vice President was creating a space where respiratory therapists could come together and share ideas. They could talk about how they were implementing new protocols or guidelines and learn from what others were doing. Those conferences give people an opportunity to reconnect with the profession, and they often leave feeling refreshed and remembering why they chose this field in the first place. Becoming professionally involved gives the maximum opportunity for impact.

Why is it important to celebrate respiratory therapists during Respiratory Care Week?

Respiratory Care Week is an opportunity to increase the visibility of respiratory therapists and remind people that we are here and have such an important role within the hospital system and beyond. It is also a chance to celebrate how far the profession has come while looking ahead and recognizing there is still more to accomplish. We have one of the coolest jobs on the planet, and it’s important to share our story.

What advice would you give to aspiring respiratory therapists?

What I’d tell any student is that you get to choose what kind of RT you want to be. The program teaches you the knowledge and skills, but the kind of clinician you become is up to you. Find your “why” early. Be the RT who goes above and beyond, who advocates for patients, who is willing to think critically when others are stuck, and who becomes an important part of the care team. Let that vision guide you through school and into your career.