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Become a Respiratory Therapist

 

Close up of female hands holding medical respiratory equipment. Man lying on hospital bed and doctor arm on blurred backgroundA respiratory therapist helps patients who are having trouble breathing. Respiratory therapists work under the direction of doctors and treat a range of patients, from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people with lung disease. They give patients oxygen, manage ventilators, and administer drugs to the lungs.

Scope of practice

Respiratory therapists work with doctors and nurses to treat patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. In a typical day, respiratory therapists may:

  • Assist with diagnosing lung or breathing disorders
  • Evaluate patients and performing tests and studies
  • Determine appropriate therapy and treatment options with physicians
  • Analyze blood and sputum in the lab
  • Manage equipment and devices needed to help people that can’t breathe normally on their own
  • Educate patients and families about lung diseases and breathing disorders

Specializations

There are many different areas that respiratory therapists can specialize in. Some areas require extra certification or experience.

Work environment

Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, cardiopulmonary diagnostic labs, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and home health agencies; however, about 75% of respiratory therapists are employed by hospitals. They typically work 35-40 hour weeks. Depending on where they work, they may work nights, weekends, and holidays, especially if they do direct patient care in hospitals or nursing homes. Shifts can be long, and respiratory therapists typically spend most of their shift on their feet.

Becoming a respiratory therapist

Individuals interested in becoming a respiratory therapist, should be detail oriented and well organized. It’s important to have strong problem solving and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work well under pressure. High school students can prepare for the role by taking advantage of science, math, and health courses.

Higher education requirements

Respiratory therapists can choose to get a two-year associate degree. Mandl School’s Respiratory Therapist degree program is one of the only programs of its kind in the New York Metro area.  Contact us to learn more!

Is a College Degree Worth it? Yes!

Ultrasound patient with medical professional

When deciding between a college degree verses no college degree, there are a variety of factors to consider. Depending on your career aspirations, you may or may not need to earn a college degree.

Healthcare Careers

If you are interested in a career in Healthcare, a college degree is quite important. Many places of hire require a degree and many careers within healthcare require licensing and certification and your degree is your ticket to preparing for these exams. Mandl School offers associate degrees in some of the most competitive and fastest growing careers in Healthcare.including Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Respiratory Therapy and Surgical Technologist.  

By evaluating the potential benefits and job opportunities of each option and weighing them against potential disadvantages, you can make an importance decision about your education going forward. Here are the top advantages to having a college degree.

Advantages to a College Degree

Creates networking opportunities: When you attend a college degree program, you get the chance to connect with a variety of other young professionals who have similar interests and career aspirations. This can help you build friendships and make important connections. Your classmates can become professional references, business partners and potential employer connections that can drive your job search.

Helps market candidates to employers: Having a college degree can help candidates standout to employers when they include their degree details on their resume. A college degree shows employers that candidates have the ability to learn and excel with multiple priorities (courses) at a time.

Without a degree you could potentially earn less on an annual basis: In some situations, those without a college degree can excel and maximize their earnings. However, it may take longer for them to achieve the same annual salary as those with college degrees. As the worker moves up the ladder, often those with a college degree will travel further and also at a higher salary all the way up.

So is an Associates Degree worth it?

According to CollegePossible.org, the answer is “yes,” and a resounding “yes!” Here are just a few reasons to believe in the value of a college degree:

  • Higher salaries, employment rates and greater job satisfaction.
  • Better health outcomes and greater life expectancy.
  • Greater job safety. The incidence of receiving workers’ compensation is 2.4 times lower.
  • Better citizenship. Those with college degrees are more than twice as likely to volunteer.
  • Stronger economies and communities. In part due to increased income from taxes, but there is also a direct correlation between an increase in a community’s college-educated population and income growth for workers of all education levels.

Mandl School has helped thousands of graduates find employment in the Healthcare industry. We’d like to help you. Apply today to learn more!

3 Unique Professions in Health Care

Mandl School prepares students for successful careers in the booming health care industry.

By Sarah Lozanova, for Mandl School, The College of Allied Health

 

Mandl school students

Health care professionals are in demand across the United States. It’s predicted to be one of the fastest-growing fields over the next decade.
A career is more than just a job. It’s something many people dedicate 40 hours a week — or more — to for decades. A rewarding career can be an essential component of a fulfilling life and provide financial security. Workers tend to be drawn to the health care industry because they want to help people and contribute to patients’ well-being while earning a living.

With unemployment rates at record highs, it’s important to choose a career path carefully, keeping future demand upon graduation in mind. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the health care industry will be one of the fastest-growing fields over the next decade. That’s good news for people joining the industry, as growth can lead to abundant career opportunities, more-lucrative positions and greater job security.

Health care professionals are in demand across the United States, so workers can choose from a wide selection of locations and settings. And because the industry is so varied, there are many specialties to learn about and explore.

Mandl School: The College of Allied Health in New York City offers programs in numerous medical specialties. The programs combine classroom learning in midtown Manhattan with real-world experience to prepare students for specific career paths in the medical field. The school offers associate degree and certificate programs that range from 42 to 85 credits.

Here are three unique programs at Mandl School that train students for in-demand, highly sought-after careers.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Ultrasounds are commonly used by health care professionals to diagnose and treat a variety of health conditions. Because ultrasounds are a noninvasive way to identify ailments, their use is widespread. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for trained sonographers will grow much faster than average.

Mandl School offers a 90-week, 85-credit associate degree to help technicians launch their careers. Students gain extensive knowledge in physics, disease processes, physiology, cross-sectional anatomy and sonographic techniques that are necessary to create ultrasound images. Students can then sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography certification examination.

Surgical Technologist

These technicians assist doctors and medical staff before, during and after surgeries. As critical members of surgical teams, they help sterilize equipment, transfer patients, clean and dress incision sites, and prepare operating rooms for patients. The job outlook is strong for surgical technologists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

At Mandl School, the 75-week surgical technologist program consists of 62 credits. Students take coursework in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, pathophysiology and microbiology. Students then gain specialized skills in logging patients’ vital signs, handling surgical instruments, performing wound care, assisting surgeons and responding to emergencies. Students are then eligible to take the certified surgical technologist exam.

Respiratory Therapist

From premature infants to elderly patients with lung disease, a wide range of people have breathing problems. Medical professionals use several different treatment methods for such issues, including chest physiotherapy and aerosol medications. Trained respiratory therapists care for patients with breathing issues, sleep abnormalities and cardiopulmonary disorders, and job opportunities are available in many settings. Demand for trained respiratory therapists is expected to climb over the next decade.

Mandl School’s respiratory therapy program spans 75 weeks and requires 68 credits. Students first take classes in microbiology, psychology, anatomy and physiology. After that, coursework includes learning about cardiopulmonary diseases and respiratory therapies. Graduates of this associate degree program are eligible to take the test to obtain the registered respiratory therapist credential.

Mandl’s programs, which also include Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Health and Human Services, and Healthcare Administration are professionally oriented to help ensure student success. Small classes and experiential learning help open career doors in a variety of settings. Now is an excellent time to explore a career with a strong job outlook upon graduation.

For more information about health care-related programs at Mandl School: The College of Allied Health, visit mandl.edu.

 

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THE USA TODAY

Future of Surgical Technologist

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND

Mandl School, The College of Allied Health offers a degree in Surgical Technologist. Our program is one of the only Surgical Technologist programs offered in New York City. A degree in Surgical Technologist requires dedication, determination and focused study. Mandl’s professors and curriculum are designed to help you gain invaluable skills and prepare for internships and  exams. Our Career Development Center can help you to embark on a career path. The rewards are many. As health care needs continue to rise at a dramatic rate, Surgical Technologists are in high demand. A Mandl degree offers a clear path to opportunities for a fantastic career.

Surgical Technologist at Mandl School

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS: HOW IT STARTED

The role of the surgical technologist began on the battlefields in World War I and World War II when the U.S. Army used “medics” to work under the direct supervision of the surgeon. Concurrently, medical “corpsman” were used in the United States Navy aboard combat ships. Nurses were not allowed aboard combat ships at the time. This led to a new profession within the military called operating room technicians (ORTs).

With many medical personnel overseas or performing duties in military hospitals, an accelerated nursing program with emphasis only on operating room technology was set up as an on-the-job training of nursing assistants who worked in the surgery department. These individuals studied sterilization of instruments and how to care for the patient in the operating room. Techniques, sutures, draping and instrumentation were emphasized; they also had to do clinical time in labor and delivery and the emergency room.

After the Korean War there were shortages of operating room nurses. Operating room supervisors began to recruit ex-medics and ex-corpsmen to work in civilian hospitals. These ex-military men functioned as circulators in the operating room while the scrub role or “instrument nurse” role was performed by the registered nurse. It was not until 1965 that these roles were reversed.

In 1974, an accreditation body was established to ensure quality education. The programs accredited by ARC/STSA (Accreditation Review Committee for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting; formerly ARC-ST) are monitored for compliance with the standards. The ARC/STSA and AST board of directors recommends the associate degree as entry level surgical technology education. Mandl School offers an Associate Degree in Surgical Technologist.

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS TODAY

A surgical technologist is an allied health professional working as a part of the team delivering surgical care. Surgical technologists are members of the surgical team. The members of the team include the surgeon, surgeon’s assistant, circulator nurse and anesthesia provider (anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist). They possess knowledge and skills in sterile and aseptic techniques. The goal is for surgical technologists to be able to anticipate the next move the surgeon is going to make in order to make the procedure as smooth and efficient as possible. They do this by having knowledge of hundreds of surgical procedures and the steps the surgeon needs to take in order to complete the procedure, including the very wide range of surgical instruments they may need. They only work in surgical or perioperative areas and are highly specialized.

HOW TO BECOME A SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST

Contact our Admissions team to discuss how to enroll in our Surgical Technologist program. We will review all requirements needed to begin including financial aid opportunities, internships, career placement and more.

During your classroom courses, you will discover operating room prep, sterilization methods, human anatomy, medical terminology, and how to appropriately use medical equipment. After passing the classroom portion of your program, students are required to complete a clinical internship. Placed with an experienced mentor in a hospital setting, prospective Surgical Technologists will participate in surgical procedures.

Considering to become a Surgical Technologist means you are ready to begin a true career path. And it starts at Mandl School! Call us at 212-247-3434 today or fill in our short form and we will get right back to you.

Healthcare Career Degree

Interested in a Healthcare Career? Overall, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 5 million new jobs in the sector through 2022. January 2021 is the best time to start at Mandl.

Why? Because NYC needs Healthcare Workers now. There are more opportunities in the medical industry than ever before and Mandl School can help you get started right away. Call 212-247-3434 today to learn more. We will answer all questions about class schedules, career services, program requirements, Financial Aid and our many programs including:

HEALTHCARE CAREER DEGREES

Our programs prepare you for career building internships, license exams, career placement and more.  Doctors and Dentists need Medical and Dental Assistants, hospitals require Respiratory Therapists, labs are looking for Health Care Administrators, and there is a growing demand for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, and Surgical Technologists. These positions are part of a healthcare team focused on overall wellness and disease treatment and prevention. Our January 2021 class is going to be a fantastic opportunity for you to begin the new year right and quickly get you started on a growing career track. Call today or fill out a short form and we’ll get right back to you!

Smiling medical professional

VITAL CAREERS START AT MANDL! 

You don’t need to be a physician to have a high paying job in the healthcare field. Non-physicians fill some of the highest paid jobs in the healthcare industry! Now is challenging time in all of our lives yet one filled with great opportunities for those like you who want to work for it. The entire Mandl staff is working hard everyday to ensure you have the best health care education and career services assistance in NYC. Classes are starting – contact us today!

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