How Mentoring Respiratory Therapy Students Transformed My Career
When I first started mentoring respiratory therapy (RT) students, I thought I was simply sharing my knowledge. What I didn’t realize was how much I would grow in the process.
Mentorship didn’t just help the students—it transformed my career in ways I never expected. From strengthening my leadership skills to deepening my expertise, mentoring has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life.
Here’s how becoming a mentor has shaped my journey and why I encourage every RT professional to do the same.
1. Mentorship Strengthens Leadership Skills
One of the biggest surprises about mentoring was how much it helped me develop as a leader.
When you’re guiding students, you naturally start honing skills like:
✅ Communication – Explaining complex RT concepts in simple, understandable terms.
✅ Patience & Adaptability – Every student learns differently, which taught me to adjust my approach.
✅ Confidence – When you mentor others, you become more aware of your own expertise and abilities.
Before mentoring, I saw myself primarily as a clinician. Now, I see myself as a leader—someone who can inspire and shape the next generation of RT professionals.
2. Teaching Deepens Your Own Knowledge
There’s a saying: "If you want to truly understand something, teach it." That couldn’t be more true in respiratory therapy.
When mentoring students, I found myself:
🔹 Revisiting fundamental RT principles to ensure I explained them accurately.
🔹 Staying up-to-date with the latest techniques so I could provide relevant insights.
🔹 Answering student questions that challenged me to think critically.
The process of teaching forced me to sharpen my own knowledge, making me a better RT in the long run.
3. You Build Meaningful Professional Connections
Mentoring isn’t just about teaching—it’s about building relationships.
Many of the students I’ve mentored have gone on to become colleagues and even friends. Some have reached out for career advice, while others have brought new opportunities into my network.
In the RT field, connections matter. Mentorship expands your professional circle and strengthens the community, creating a support system that benefits everyone involved.
🗣️ My Most Memorable Mentoring Moment
One of my most rewarding experiences was mentoring Betty during her RT training. They struggled with mechanical ventilation, but after weeks of practice and encouragement, she finally understood it.
I’ll never forget the excitement on herr face when she successfully set up the ventilator, inputted the initial vent settings and made adjustments to it to fix a blood gas for the first time. Seeing her confidence grow reminded me why mentorship is so powerful—it’s about empowering others to succeed.
By the way, she went on to get her RRT, moved out of state and is currently working as a respiratory therapist and living the best life for her and her family.
Why Every RT Professional Should Consider Mentoring
If you’ve never mentored an RT student before, I highly recommend it. Here’s why:
✔️ It strengthens your leadership and teaching abilities.
✔️ It keeps you sharp and up-to-date in the field.
✔️ It creates meaningful professional connections.
✔️ It makes a lasting impact on the next generation.
We all had someone who guided us when we were starting out. Becoming a mentor is your chance to pay it forward.
💬 Let’s Talk!
🔲 [“Want to Become a Mentor? Let’s Connect!”] 👈 Check out my LinkedIn Page!
Have you mentored an RT student? How has it impacted your career? Share your experience in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 👇
