Rita Waller

I have been a registered respiratory therapist since earning my BS degree in 1980 and an educator since 1994. Included within that time frame are two years employment in nursing and obtaining my BSN and MSN in mental health - psychiatric nursing. I teach in a two year respiratory care program; my primary areas of concentration are cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology, mechanical ventilation, airway care, hemodynamics, and pharmacology. In addition to respiratory care classes I have taught nutrition, medical terminology, and pharmacology calculations in our nursing and medical assisting programs.

The nature of respiratory care necessitates a great deal of lecture. I provide my students with copies of my notes because I want my lecture to help my students understand the info rather than be an exercise in speed-writing. This also provides class time for non-lecture activities. I web-enhance all of my classes which gives me the opportunity to include discussion boards and other independent critical thinking exercises. I also include as many interactive tutorials as I can. I am a bit limited in the software that is available, but I've gotten some useful results with PowerPoint and SoftChalk. I am always in search of additional resources that are free and intuitive.

Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society

BS Respiratory Therapy 1980 from the Medical University of South Carolina BSN General Nursing 1993 from the Medical College of Georgia MSN Mental Health-Psychiatric Nursing 1997 from the Medical College of Georgia Currently pursing EdD (ABD) at the Universtiy of Georgia

I have just started working on my research for my dissertation. I am looking at the effect that guided reflective dialogue journaling has on critical reflection. Also enjoy photography especially macrophotography and nature photography.