Respiratory Care Program Featured on CBS3

On Tuesday, March 26, GMercyU’s Respiratory Care program hosted its annual bronchoscopy lab designed to give students hands-on experience inside the classroom. The lab provides students with valuable, practical experience in assisting physicians with bronchoscopies and collaborating with nurses in patient management. Not only did the students learn how to operate the bronchoscope, but they also learned how to process the samples collected during the procedure.

In the procedure, tissue diagnosis is critical and respiratory therapists need to determine if a good sample was obtained. To make the lab realistic, Program Coordinator Randy Solly, MS, RRT, RPFT, AE-C experimented with different foods to simulate lung tissue and needle aspiration and bronchial brushing components. He settled upon Jello and liverwurst to create the most realistic experience for his students.

The red Jello allowed the students to observe the sample being aspirated into the needle in real time. It also allowed them to visually confirm whether a sufficient sample was obtained, further reinforcing a critical skill in bronchoscopy procedures. Liverwurst proved to be the most comparable to lung tissue and was also visible to students during the procedure.

“In the first scenario, we simulate a bronchoscopy where the patient’s oxygen saturation starts to drop. The students must quickly assess the situation and intervene to stabilize the patient, reinforcing their ability to think critically under pressure,” said Randy. “The second simulation adds a bit of a mystery: a foreign body aspiration. In this case, the patient has somehow managed to inhale a paperclip. The students must work together to safety remove the obstruction, emphasizing the importance of communication and teamwork.”

After the lab, reporter Stephanie Stahl from CBS3 interviewed Program Coordinator Randy Solly and students to better understand the role of respiratory therapists in healthcare setting. Check out the clip below.