California College San Diego’s Respiratory Therapy Students Hired to Help with the COVID-19 Pandemic
SAN DIEGO—California College San Diego (CCSD) is proud to announce that 22 of its Respiratory Therapy students will soon be able to help in the fight against COVID-19 (coronavirus) by working with Scripps Health as respiratory therapy externs.
Changes by the federal government and the Respiratory Care Board of California have allowed “students enrolled in an approved respiratory care training program [to] render respiratory care services when they are incidental to his or her course of study. However, any such student partaking in activities covered by Business Professions Code section 3741 must identify himself or herself as a student respiratory care practitioner.”*
CCSD has been working with area hospitals since 2003. Once news of this change was verified, respiratory managers from several hospitals reached out to CCSD’s program director, triggering an immediate response.
The 22 students participating in this partnership will be oriented to Scripps Health as new hires and will have a preceptor to help them along the way. All of the students have had a minimum of one completed rotation in ICU/Critical Care, and have the necessary skills to help during this crisis. This partnership will allow hospitals to free up seasoned respiratory therapists to take care of more critically ill patients.
Rachel Quinlan, Executive Director of the San Diego and National City campuses of CCSD, says this opportunity is great for students as well as for the San Diego community. “Our Associate’s degree includes 720 hours of clinical rotations,” says Quinlan. “This group of students will be able to complete their remaining clinical hours, while also providing life-saving measures at San Diego hospitals because of this emergency bill.”
The 22 students qualified for this partnership will start work after their new hire orientations at local hospitals. CCSD anticipates its students will be working by April 13th.
About California College San Diego
California College San Diego (CCSD) provides career-focused higher education to students in Southern California. CCSD is committed to preparing professionals for meaningful careers and an increased sense of satisfaction. CCSD is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
California College San Diego is a registered trademark of Center for Excellence in Higher Education, Inc.
Debbie Rose, Associate Dean & Director of RT
California College San Diego (CCSD)
619-680-4430 ext. 1519
debbie.rose@cc-sd.edu