Professional Responsibility Influence Fellow Peer Interview

Fellow Peer Interview
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Fellow Peer Interview
I interviewed Jane Doe, a respiratory therapist.
What is your role as a health care team member?
As respiratory therapists, we are charged with the responsibility of restoring patients’ pulmonary function through assessing and monitoring the functioning of the heart and lung and giving treatment where necessary. Respiratory therapists provide a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic services to people with respiratory problems. These include administering of oxygen, measuring lung function, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administering drugs to the lungs, management of mechanical ventilators, monitoring cardiopulmonary systems among others. As health care team members, we work under the directions of doctors to serve all people, ranging from elderly patients with lung disorders to the premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed. Respiratory therapists also provide care to patients who are suffering from emphysema or chronic asthma, as well as emergency care to people experiencing a stroke, shock, heart attack or drowning.
How do you define professionalism?
As respiratory therapists and part of the medical practitioners, we take professionalism as the manner in which a respiratory therapist conducts himself/herself, especially in the workplace. Professionalism includes attributes such as attitude, good team players, communication skills, mannerism, appearance and competence. For instance, under attitude, we are encouraged to demonstrate a positive attitude, in other words, respiratory care, should be exciting and fun. Respiratory care is a teamwork activity; hence good team players are well steered. As medical practitioners, we share with fellow physicians and patients; thus, good communication skills are essential in this sector. Un...