Growing up, Maya Black always knew she’d work in pediatric healthcare. But she never imagined she'd be wrapping up her first year as a respiratory therapist in the middle of a global pandemic. Three years after arriving at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the country, Maya remains committed to her work on the front line. Today, she credits the pandemic for raising awareness about the role respiratory therapists play each day in helping save kids’ lives.

“COVID put a spotlight on a profession that has been, and will continue to be, essential to the care of pediatric patients,” she says. “Respiratory therapists help kids combat viral illnesses like RSV, HMPV, rhinovirus and parainfluenza. Not only are we essential to running ventilators, but our chronic patient populations—kids with asthma and Cystic Fibrosis—require extensive pulmonary clearance regimens to recover from illness.”

Here's a closer look at how Maya and the respiratory therapy team come together to help Children’s patients breathe a little easier.

A Typical Day: Respiratory Therapist

6:15 p.m. As Maya pulls into the parking garage for her 7 p.m. shift at Children's Scottish Rite Hospital, one of three Children’s hospitals, she pauses to pray for protection over her patients, colleagues and herself. “I believe mindfulness is a powerful tool for resilience in the face of adversity,” she says. “It helps me mentally prepare for my day and keeps me focused on the positive.” She retrieves her Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the Respiratory Department, and then meets with the respiratory therapist from the previous shift for a report on her patients. “I try to get my PPE first thing in case we have a patient who needs urgent attention as my shift begins,” Maya explains. “If that happens, I want to be ready to go.”

7:30 p.m. Maya begins her shift in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with first rounds, during which she visits each of her patients to check in and administer any scheduled medications or treatments. Her work is complex, and the number of patients she sees varies depending on how many have respiratory care needs. Tonight is particularly busy—she has seven kids on her list. She greets her first patient with a smile as she enters the room. “Showing compassion and empathy have always been an important part of this job—and they’re especially important now more than ever,” Maya says, as she begins suction therapy to help clear the child’s airway. “I always do my best to comfort my patients and their families with kind words and patience when I know they are afraid, or when the treatment may be uncomfortable.”

11:00 p.m. After checking in on each respiratory patient, Maya huddles with the pediatric physicians, nurses and other respiratory therapists on her floor. Together, they discuss each child’s care needs, including treatments, possible challenges, concerns and goals they have for the night. “It is always helpful to work together to understand what the game plan is for each patient,” Maya explains. “Caring for our patients really is a team effort.”

1:00 a.m. After checking in on her patients for a second time, Maya takes a few minutes to note any changes in their care before settling down for a quick lunch break. “Many people find it strange when I tell them I eat lunch in the middle of the night,” Maya laughs. “But I have gotten used to nightshift and enjoy my sandwich or salad at 1 a.m.” After lunch, she heads to the room of a patient who has been experiencing chronic respiratory issues and prepares him for a vest treatment—a 20-minute treatment that involves wearing an inflatable vest that vibrates at a high frequency to loosen and thin mucus.

“It is always helpful to work together to understand
what the game plan is for each patient.”

6:00 a.m. As her shift comes to a close, Maya visits her patients one last time before reporting to the respiratory therapist who will relieve her. Then she heads home for some well-deserved rest and her go-to self-care activity: journaling. “The most rewarding part of my job is witnessing the impact my care can have on Children’s commitment to making kids better today and healthier tomorrow,” she says. “I like to write down small wins from each shift to keep me motivated for the next day.”

Three years after the start of the pandemic, Maya is more confident than ever that being a pediatric respiratory therapist at Children’s is the perfect fit for her, not only for her skills, but also her personality and approach to patient care. “My technical skills are invaluable, but my three years of respiratory care experience confirm that compassion and empathy are essential to the patient's overall experience,” she says. “The respiratory care team can encounter barriers of many forms at the bedside. Being sensitive and aware of those stemming from our inherent and cultural differences matter.”

Maya adds that she is in good company when it comes to caring with compassion and empathy. Children’s fosters these values throughout our System, at every hospital and every clinic. “It is rewarding to be part of one of the most diverse departments, those who bring varied life experiences to the bedside, that continue to acknowledge and affirm the new and unique experiences of our patients and their families. Our care has the ability to affect the trajectory of our patients’ lives when we acknowledge and care for the whole patient.”

. . .

See why top respiratory therapists
choose Children’s

Children’s respiratory therapists know firsthand the fulfillment that comes from pursuing a career at a place where your work is your joy and your passion is your job. Watch the video to get a closer look at what this team believes sets Children’s apart from the rest.

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