As students and educators alike settle into a routine for another year of instruction, lessons learned from last year are brewing to make a perfect cup of tea. Students in Francis Tuttle Technology Center's Respiratory Care program and The University of Central Oklahoma's Leadership in Wellness Management class are collaborating to prepare for their respective careers in healthcare.
Last year, post-graduate surveys conducted by Francis Tuttle Respiratory Care instructors indicated that job search skills had not been fully addressed prior to graduation. Although students were well versed in therapeutic pulmonary and cardiac care, many had never prepared a resume, nor had they participated in a mock interview.
With respiratory therapists in high demand, these job readiness skills had never been considered a high priority item, as most were gainfully employed in the field prior to graduation, and prior to the most recent survey, it just had not been a problem or issue for past students.
With the volatility and mobility of today's job market, instructors realized that including these skill sets in the curriculum would serve the best interests of the students. Enter UCO's Dr. Diane Rudebock and graduate students in the Leadership in Wellness Management class.
A primary focus at The University of Central Oklahoma is service learning, and graduate students in the Leadership in Wellness Management class in The Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies have participated with community partners on projects with a focus on aspects of leadership over the past three years.
Armed with input from the Respiratory Care Advisory Committee, Francis Tuttle instructor Pat Vaughn worked with Dr. Rudebock to identify interview questions which addressed communication, problem solving, prioritizing, initiative, decision making and stress management-issues that employees face, but are sometimes not considered part of healthcare.
"It is crucial that the right people are hired for the right job, but the right questions must be asked to ensure a potential employee's skills, as well as issues for long-term success," commented Rudebock.
Dr. Rudebock's students researched trends in interviewing, sequencing of questions and legal issues, and compiled their research to develop appropriate interview questions in the six categories, with specific emphasis on healthcare industry needs from an employer's perspective.
Students developed a rating and feedback tool and learned how to appropriately coach those being interviewed with feedback. Prior to the interviews, all first year respiratory care students participated in a resume preparation seminar, and completed a resume for their interview.
A draft of the interview tool was approved by the Respiratory Care faculty, and dates were set for interviews. Each Respiratory Care student was interviewed by a team of UCO graduate students, who rated responses and provided both verbal and written feedback.
Comments from both groups of students were positive and favorable, several noting that the interview project was one of the most beneficial activities that they had completed. Some Respiratory Care students mentioned that they had not developed a resume before and some had never participated in a formal job interview.
Also, as many of the UCO students were in the process of applying for jobs themselves, they now had the first hand experience of being on the other side of an interview and realized how they can increase the odds in their favor.
Francis Tuttle student Alisha Estle said "The mock interviews helped ease some tension between interviewees and the interviewers. It showed me that I can be professional, yet relaxed in an interview. I had always been terrified going into an interview, but the mock process helped give me confidence to prepare for the future."
The project included 20 graduate students in Dr. Rudebock's class and 55 Respiratory Care students from Francis Tuttle. With the success of the pilot project, it will be repeated in following years. As students return to classrooms and laboratories on both campuses, instructors and administrators are making preparations for another year of collaboration.