A natural tension exists within the education of students seeking to become effective respiratory therapists when those students undergo independent, standardized assessments. The NBRC expects each person to uphold professional integrity whether one is educating students, preparing students/graduates for an examination, interacting with a recent graduate as a classmate or coworker, or reflecting on recently taking an examination. The purpose of this session is to describe potential consequences of behaving in ways judged to be out-of-line by the NBRC and its actions regarding examination security.

Explore the multifaceted recruitment strategies of an urban RT program, spanning on-campus initiatives and off-campus partnerships. Discover the correlation between student evaluation criteria, completion rates, and success in NBRC exams for a comprehensive understanding of student recruitment and assessment.

Discover the art of identifying the right mentor and learn actionable steps a mentee can take to shape this pivotal relationship. From cultivating effective communication to leveraging mentorship for career advancement, delve into practical strategies that empower early career respiratory therapists to navigate the complexities of their profession with confidence. Join us for an engaging session where mentorship becomes the catalyst for unlocking your full professional potential.

Greater than 60% of the current program directors are expected to turn over in a decade and their directors of clinical education expected to remain only 4–5 years after their departure, leading to a national shortage of experienced educational leadership in respiratory care. Accredited RC programs are the bedrock of our profession and if not maintained, the entire profession will be weakened. It is critical for the educational community to mentor those advancing into these educational leadership positions.

At a time when our profession is growing leaps and bounds in opportunity, we face a growing workforce shortage. We must vigorously recruit our future workforce while retaining our best and brightest and meet current workforce needs — a challenge which will require a united effort of all. This presentation will explore the challenges we face, share current initiatives in workforce recovery, and identify ways respiratory care leaders may collaborate to forge a brighter future.

All educators can teach facts related to clinical practice. However, teaching others to select, organize, and integrate clinical information poses a much larger challenge. This presentation summarizes the cognitive science literature for teaching meaningful (critical) thinking in clinical and classroom settings.