Vanessa H. Nguyen, RRT

“I first earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts, but I knew that a job in this field would not be fulfilling; I knew I wanted to take care of people. So I looked into different programs and found Respiratory Care at El Centro. I still wasn’t sure if that was the right career path for me, so I took some HPRS classes with Mr. Idichandi Idicula. He helped me to realize that I made the right choice. It’s obvious he loves what he does, and I made the decision to go into respiratory therapy because of him. 

“The best part of the program was the teachers. They are knowledgeable in their field because they work in it, and they are caring people. They encouraged us to develop our work ethic and also stressed the importance of taking care of our patients. Our instructors always shared their experiences and stories with us, even the mistakes they’ve made, so that we could learn from them. I feel like I really learned from their experiences. 

“What do I love about my job? I love my co-workers, and I love my patients and their families. The surprising part about this job is how much I've learned about humanity, how kind people are. There are many wonderful people out there.

“If you like to learn and truly care about people, you’ll love this job.”  Vanessa Nguyen earned an associate degree in Respiratory Care from El Centro in 2008. She also holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts with an emphasis in graphic design from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is credentialed as a registered respiratory therapist (RRT).

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