Like many people starting a new job after graduation, Amanda Allemeier, a Respiratory Therapist at Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital, was looking forward to the new position, but she was a bit anxious, at first. “I was very excited, but being a new respiratory therapist, I was also very nervous,” she says.
Amanda has been with Cleveland Clinic for less than a year (starting in May 2022), and thanks to the help and encouragement she received from her new fellow caregivers and her new employer, she has found her way quickly. It started with her orientation and training.
“The whole process – interviewing and visiting the hospital to see if I liked it before I started – was so easy,” she says. “Everyone has been really good at communicating with me, so I knew what I was getting into.”
Support from fellow caregivers
Once she was onboard at South Pointe Hospital, Amanda received a great deal of assistance from her fellow caregivers, which not only helped her get acclimated, but also added to her skills base.
“They were all very welcoming, especially in the beginning,” she says. “They would check on me during my rounds and offer help.
“What I appreciated the most was if they were dealing with something I hadn’t experienced yet, they made a point to reach out to me and say ‘hey, this is what we’re doing, if you want to come help out or if you want to come see it.’ So they were very inviting to all the new things and trying to get me involved as much as I could.”
Support from Cleveland Clinic
Amanda credits her new employer, Cleveland Clinic, for its help in paving the way as she pursued her long-time goal of becoming a respiratory therapist.
“One of the biggest things that helped is that Cleveland Clinic reimbursed me for the cost of my board exams, once I passed them,” she says. “And then when I renewed my BLS and ALS certifications, they reimbursed me for that, as well.”
Accolades from fellow caregivers
Within her first year of starting at Cleveland Clinic, Amanda was gratified to receive the Novice Respiratory Therapy Excellence Award. The award came from her peers, who recognized her skills and dedication to her work.
“It was very exciting to receive the award, especially since it’s from your co-workers,” she says. “I was very surprised because I had just started there, but it was so validating to have my peers acknowledge my hard work.”
Advice to new caregivers
Amanda encourages new caregivers to reach out for any assistance they might need. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or ask questions,” she says. “And don’t feel discouraged. Everybody starts off somewhere.”
She speaks from her own experience. “I’m definitely more confident in what I’m doing and I feel a lot more accepted. And I’m excited to come to work, which I’d never felt in a workplace before!”
She’s also made a point of “paying it forward,” offering support and assistance to new caregivers. “I make a point of reaching out to them, see how they’re doing or if they have any questions. I’m learning from other people and also learning to share that knowledge with other people.”
