Justine Godoy at Canyon Vista Medical Center before her night shift in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
After her little brother was diagnosed with asthma, Justine Godoy, a 27-year-old from Douglas, Arizona, decided to pursue a career in respiratory therapy (RT).
A career in respiratory therapy involves learning the science of respiration or breathing. All hospital settings, including intensive care nurseries, pediatrics and even nursing homes, practice respiratory therapy methods.
Godoy started her career path in 2013 and was accepted into the Cochise College Respiratory Therapy program. She was part of the first Respiratory Therapy cohort to graduate from Cochise College. With her successful completion of the program, Justine Godoy, and the 2015 Respiratory Therapy cohort, received an Associate of Applied Science degree, and continued on to take the National Board for Respiratory Care Exam.
Justine says she loved taking classes at Cochise College because the college was near her home. Godoy was raised in Douglas and graduated from Douglas High School. She was also part of the women’s soccer team at Cochise College, and she is a mother of a four-year-old little girl named Mila Villalobos.
“I just love to help people, and I’m a people person, and I’m just really passionate about respiratory therapy, and I’m excited about my future,” Godoy explained.
The young professional started to work at Canyon Vista Medical Center located in Sierra Vista, Arizona, this past July after successfully passing her National Board for Respiratory Care Exam in February. Her experience thus far has been a unique one.
“I enjoy working in the hospital; I am learning new techniques every day… Obviously, this is challenging and demanding work,” says Justine. “But I thrive in this type of environment. I have noticed that patients are scared when they go to the hospital, and you have to treat them as if they are your family member, no matter what, and it’s actually part of the job that I love the most.”
Respiratory therapists treat a variety of illnesses. Some of the patients require medication like bronchodilators to increase the diameter of their airways to decrease the work it takes to breathe. Airway management is also needed when patients stop breathing. Immediate intervention is required until the problem is resolved. In some cases, infants will need respiratory therapy. A mask will be placed over the infant’s face that inflates the lungs and breathes for the infant. Depending on the severity of the situation, infants may also be placed on a ventilator. Doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists all work collaboratively for the best care of the child.
“It’s awesome because you are the patient’s airway, you are right there at the head of the bed trying to help this patient breath,” Godoy explained. “On one of my patients, we had to do a trial run to see if he could breathe on his own. He looked at me, and he was so happy to be able to breathe, to do something so basic, yet so critical. His wife was there too, and she was really happy and relieved. You feel so proud that you actually helped someone…”
Justine encourages all students interested in respiratory therapy to learn more about this exciting field. “I can’t stress enough the fact that respiratory therapy is an ever changing and growing field,” she says, “and if you are one who loves new and exciting things and loves people, respiratory [therapy] is for you.”
Students interested in Cochise College’s Respiratory Therapy program should complete all pre-requirement classes, preferably with a B or better, by the end of fall 2017 to be considered for spring 2018 admittance. For more information, visit the Respiratory Therapy page.