What is the importance of the role of a Respiratory Therapist in infection control?

"During my career, the thought and policies around infection control in the healthcare setting have changed greatly. I take great pride in knowing that I keep myself as protected as possible and, in turn, my patients are kept as safe as possible. With my equipment, I am trained on how to properly sterilize the equipment after each use and I fully understand the importance of doing this each and every time the equipment is used."

Working as a Respiratory Therapist, you play a large role in helping infection prevention through the hospital, clinic, or home settings that you work in. Talk about the steps you take to ensure that all equipment you use is properly sterilized and how you keep yourself infection-free throughout the workday to keep your patients safe. If you have had any formal training on infection control with your previous employer, talk about that as well.

"Every year, my current employer does infection prevention training for all staff. Due to all of the research into infection prevention and control, I learn new things every year during training. During my workdays, I have to ensure that all equipment that I use is properly cleaned and sterilized for use on the next patient. With all the mechanical equipment that I use, I have step-by-step cleaning procedures, and I take great pride in completing these steps each time I use the equipment. That, along with proper hand hygiene, helps ensure that my patients in the hospital are as safe as can be from further infection."