View in EDS

Misunderstood: Stakeholder Perceptions of Respiratory Therapy Professional Identity

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Misunderstood: Stakeholder Perceptions of Respiratory Therapy Professional Identity
Language: English
Authors: Sherry Whiteman, Pietro A. Sasso
Source: Higher Education Politics & Economics. 2026 12(1):22-44.
Availability: Higher Education Politics & Economics. 2309 Education Building, Norfolk, VA 23529. Tel: 757-683-4118; e-mail: hepe@odu.edu; Web site: http://ojed.org/index.php/hepe/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Professional Identity, Allied Health Personnel, Allied Health Occupations Education, Degree Requirements, Stakeholders, College Faculty
ISSN: 2577-7270
2577-7289
Abstract: No current literature explores how respiratory therapists describe their professional identity. To address this gap, this descriptive phenomenological study used stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1994) as a framework to explore the perspectives of practitioners and educators through the use of semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to share perspectives about professional identity, minimum degree requirements for entry-into-practice, and the clinical implications for identity and practice. The purpose of this study was to explore how increasing professional education expectations may change the professional identity and clinical practice. This exploratory study found a lack of cohesive identity often ascribed to therapists rather than determined by therapists and problematizes future research about respiratory care identity, teaching, and clinical care. Implications for practice include recommendations for focused reflective practice and increased socialization within the profession.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1501264
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1501264
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1501264
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Misunderstood: Stakeholder Perceptions of Respiratory Therapy Professional Identity
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sherry+Whiteman%22">Sherry Whiteman</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pietro+A%2E+Sasso%22">Pietro A. Sasso</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Education+Politics+%26+Economics%22"><i>Higher Education Politics & Economics</i></searchLink>. 2026 12(1):22-44.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Higher Education Politics & Economics. 2309 Education Building, Norfolk, VA 23529. Tel: 757-683-4118; e-mail: hepe@odu.edu; Web site: http://ojed.org/index.php/hepe/index
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 23
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Identity%22">Professional Identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Personnel%22">Allied Health Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Occupations+Education%22">Allied Health Occupations Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Degree+Requirements%22">Degree Requirements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stakeholders%22">Stakeholders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2577-7270<br />2577-7289
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: No current literature explores how respiratory therapists describe their professional identity. To address this gap, this descriptive phenomenological study used stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1994) as a framework to explore the perspectives of practitioners and educators through the use of semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to share perspectives about professional identity, minimum degree requirements for entry-into-practice, and the clinical implications for identity and practice. The purpose of this study was to explore how increasing professional education expectations may change the professional identity and clinical practice. This exploratory study found a lack of cohesive identity often ascribed to therapists rather than determined by therapists and problematizes future research about respiratory care identity, teaching, and clinical care. Implications for practice include recommendations for focused reflective practice and increased socialization within the profession.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1501264
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1501264
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 22
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Professional Identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Occupations Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Degree Requirements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Stakeholders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Faculty
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Misunderstood: Stakeholder Perceptions of Respiratory Therapy Professional Identity
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Sherry Whiteman
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Pietro A. Sasso
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 2577-7270
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2577-7289
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 12
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Higher Education Politics & Economics
              Type: main
ResultId 1