Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
South Texas College Respiratory Therapy students are getting an early start in pediatric care after being selected for Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley’s inaugural Student Respiratory Tech positions.
Since May, four students, selected from 26 applicants and now in their second year of the program, have balanced paid positions at Driscoll with STC’s rigorous coursework and clinical rotations, gaining valuable experience alongside respiratory therapists.
“Driscoll approached us and invited our students to apply for the positions because of our program’s strong outcomes,” said STC Respiratory Therapy Program Chair Gabriel Peña. “That made me incredibly proud of the program we’ve built and the reputation our students have earned. This is such a great opportunity for them, and we’re honored and excited to see them take this next step in their careers.”
As paid Driscoll employees, the students earn $15 an hour and work at least one shift each week in addition to their STC coursework and clinical rotations.
Under the supervision of licensed respiratory therapists, they assist with approved respiratory treatments and patient care throughout the hospital, gaining experience on patient floors and in areas such as the emergency room and pediatric intensive care unit.
Driscoll Children’s Hospital RGV Respiratory Department Manager Jose Nava said bringing students into the hospital before graduation gives them an opportunity to build valuable pediatric experience while preparing for the transition from college to career.
“We’re extremely satisfied with the results we’re seeing so far,” Nava said. “The level of engagement from these students is very high. They go to school and do their clinicals Monday through Friday, and then they’re coming here and working on the weekends or whenever they have availability. They’re essentially doing respiratory care six or seven days a week, and that says a lot about their commitment.”
An STC alumnus, Nava recently earned his bachelor’s degree in Medical and Health Services Management from the college and said the opportunity has become a full-circle moment as he now looks to STC to help build Driscoll’s respiratory care workforce.
“Nearly 80% of my respiratory staff comes from STC, and the graduates we get are amazing,” Nava said. “They come prepared with the right concepts and everything they need to succeed. We’re very grateful for the relationship we have with STC and for the opportunity to give these students even more exposure while they’re still in school.”
Among the four selected was 22-year-old Katya Jimenez, who had stopped working to focus entirely on the demanding program, making the opportunity to earn an income while gaining experience in her future profession especially meaningful, and further confirming her passion for pediatric care.
“Being with Driscoll has really shown me that what I’m doing is what I’m meant to do,” she said. “I absolutely love working with kids. When I see that kid smile after they’ve been in a hospital bed all day, getting them to laugh is truly the best reward you can get.”
Fellow Respiratory Therapy student LeeRoy Medina, 28, a former STC nursing student and certified nursing assistant, said the experience has strengthened his confidence and given him a clearer picture of the respiratory therapist he hopes to become.
“Balancing everything has been challenging, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat,” Medina said. “I feel incredibly privileged and honored to have been chosen for this opportunity. We get to learn from amazing respiratory therapists who set the standard for the kind of professionals we want to become. It’s been such an incredible experience, and every sacrifice has been worth it.”
Building on the success of the initiative so far, Driscoll plans to continue offering Student Respiratory Tech positions next year, giving more STC students the opportunity to gain hands-on pediatric experience and potentially strengthen their prospects for future employment at the hospital.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Driscoll for believing in our program and giving our students this opportunity,” Peña said. “These four are setting the example and opening the door for the students who come after them. We’re excited to see where this opportunity takes them and what it can mean for the future of our program and our students.”
Information source: STC
