Tanis Hares, Registered Respiratory Therapist, Grace Hospital, says a family member with lung disease inspired her down the path to help others get better and manage their symptoms.
“If you can’t breathe, you will likely be seeing a Respiratory Therapist very soon. RTs often see patients on their worst day, and luckily, we will get to see them on better days when they’re feeling better or have recovered. We use our education and years of experience to diagnose and fine-tune treatments to every patient we see.”
In acute roles, RTs take care of patients on ventilators and Bi-lateral Positive Airway Pressure (BIPAPs) in intensive care units (ICU) and emergency rooms.
“We work very closely with nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals to provide excellent care to all our patients, both acute and chronic. We might be working with someone in cardiac arrest and then see someone with pneumonia next. You might see us in an OR helping get someone ready for surgery. Or, if you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, or other chronic illnesses, you may see an RT as part of your care plan.”
RTs also work with lower acuity patients throughout the healthcare system.
“You might find me teaching a patient how best to use their puffers, and next time, how to manage their BIPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. If you need a breathing test, you might attend one of our Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) clinics. Several RTs work exclusively with home oxygen patients to keep them safe in the community.”
Alongside the challenge of 365/24/7 work, which Tanis says, “you get used to over time”, the profession is facing a desperately low level of staffing in Manitoba’s healthcare system.
“Some days at the Grace, I am the only RT covering wards AND emergency. Short staffing causes backlogs for testing. It delays care. It’s causing burnout. And it’s tough because we can’t truly expand roles – there is no one to fill positions – we really need more new graduates.”
Tanis loves travel, photography, and reading, and she graduated from the UM School of Medical Rehabilitation with a Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy.
“The care RTs provide can help a patient manage a chronic condition, learn how to manage a sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea with BIPAP or CPAP, or offer an early diagnosis before something gets worse. It can be the difference between life and death.”
