Respiratory therapists often see patients in the hospital during a time when they are unable to use their voice to communicate. A breathing tube restricts their airway or vocal cord injuries make it impossible to talk and they lose their ability to verbally communicate with the hospital staff.
Little did 2022 Registered Respiratory Therapist to Bachelor of Science Degree Advancement Online Program alumni Paige Vermeulen know how much her sign language fluency would come in handy during her work day as a respiratory practitioner.
“Before I was in respiratory school, my degree was in becoming an American Sign Language interpreter,” Vermeulen said. “I had an experience in middle school that showed me advocacy for others is something we should all strive to accomplish. I made many deaf and hard of hearing friends in school, and became fluent enough to turn my voice off and communicate completely for days on end.”
“Now, I use my sign language fluency in my day to day work as a respiratory therapist with patients in the hospital who are due the respect and comfort of communicating in their own language. I see many patients with laryngectomies (surgery to remove part or all of your larynx, or voice box), vocal cord paralysis, and deafness or hard of hearing using papers and pens to write to be heard. The way their face lights up when they recognize someone to communicate with is a weight being lifted off of their shoulders.”
Inspired by dad to care for others
Growing up under her dad’s workbench, watching as he worked as a small town optician and being proud of how her dad helped people see better, took time to get to know them, and made glasses by hand made her realize that she wanted to help people. Respiratory therapy sort of fell into her life at the right moment and she felt like her skill set was made for this career. She is right at home performing therapies and taking care of patients – just as she had watched her dad lovingly do with his patients.
“It may be hard to imagine, but becoming a respiratory therapist is guaranteeing that you will step into the role of the unsung hero. You have to have motivation in your heart and soul to be the quiet hand at the head of the bed, assisting a baby to take their first breaths and then head out to check the other neonatal intensive care unit patients, hold the airway during a COVID pronation and supination, and be the steady force of support for every nurse and doctor in the hospital.”
Next aspiration: teacher
“I was apprehensive about a fully online degree, but the course load, concentrated classes, and ease of access made me jump in,” Vermeuleun said of her Boise State program. “I had really enjoyed my in person A.S. degree at Santa Fe College in Florida, so this was a big change. I have really enjoyed talking to other students through group discussions and coursework. Having been a traveler for the past two years, I recognize people’s names I have met and worked with- I can see how far and wide our respiratory family reaches over our many hospitals and organizations. I enjoy the way Boise State links all RTs who want to better our career in the future.”
Being a voice for patients isn’t all Paige does – she also works in rural Montana as a Clinical Instructor for Montana State University Great Falls College on an as needed basis for first year students at Benefis hospital, she works as needed for Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, Montana and as a full time as needed night shift respiratory therapist at the Great Falls Clinic. Her ultimate goal is to be an adjunct instructor and professor of respiratory care.
Boise State has three respiratory care programs: On Campus Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care Program, Registered Respiratory Therapy-Bachelor of Science Degree Advancement Online Program and Master of Science in Respiratory Care.