Video Transcript – Master of Science in Respiratory Care
Video Transcript
[Title: Master of Science in Respiratory Care]
[Megan Koster: Director, MSRC]: Respiratory Care is an interesting field where people are cardiopulmonary specialists. So we deal with anything from asthma, to COPD, to cystic fibrosis, on a range of different patients. We also deal in management, education, and advanced bedside care. So we really are cardiopulmonary specialists. Long story short, it means we help people breathe better. If people aren’t breathing, they aren’t doing much else either. The Master’s of Science in Respiratory Care Program is designed to help students of all backgrounds – who have their RRT or a bachelor’s degree in a related field – pursue their Master’s in Respiratory Care to address management, administration, or to become an even better bed side clinician. Our curriculum is 36 credits and it covers all of those areas, and we are newly accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.
[Ryan Forbush, MSRC student]: The Master’s in Respiratory Care is important to me because it really elevates the profession as well as individual, the practitioner, to the next level. It really gives you the tools that you need to be successful and practice at a higher level.
[Brian Smith, MSRC student]: The program at Boise State has given me success in my career already. On a weekly basis I’m actually taking back information that I’m learning through the program, and I’m actually teaching right at our facility. So, I’m able to take the module education and apply it directly to what I’m doing career wise.
[Alyssa Zemke, MSRC student]: I’ve always wanted to obtain a Master’s degree and I really truly do love what I do, so it made perfect sense to further my knowledge and skills in the field of respiratory care, while allowing me to focus on the leadership and educational aspect of respiratory care.
[Megan Koster] So, our online Master’s of Respiratory Care at Boise State, utilizes an online program in a cohort model. So that means that when you come into our program, you are going to move through the sequence with the same people that are admitted at the same time as you. So, we admit a cohort every fall, and those students move through the seven week courses sequentially to be done in about two years. Our goal is to allow these students within the cohort to develop a community atmosphere, something that’s really important to us at Boise State.
[Ryan Forbush]: Even though it’s an online format, we still do a lot of interaction, working on projects together. I learn a lot from the other members of the cohort as well, and so I really think the cohort model is the way to do it.
[Alyssa Zemke]: Learning online has allowed me to continue to work full-time while attending school. I also am able to be there for my family. I’ve been able to attend each and every practice with my kids, and that’s really important to me.
[Ryan Forbush]: The best parts for me about learning online is the flexibility. I have a family, I work still in the hospitals professionally, and so the major advantage of online education is the flexibility to work around my own hours. Also, to a certain degree, to go at your own pace.
[Megan] We like to say that once you’re a member of our department, you’re here for life and you’re family. Once a Bronco, always a Bronco!