Respiratory therapist uses art to connect with pediatric patients
Eddie Hatcher combines his role as a respiratory therapist with his longtime love of art to create meaningful connections with young patients.
For respiratory therapist Eddie Hatcher, a few dry erase markers can go a long way.
Between caring for patients, Hatcher often takes a few minutes to draw on the doors and boards outside pediatric patient rooms at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The drawings range from familiar characters to colorful, personalized scenes inspired by what each child likes.
Sometimes, the request is simple. Other times, a patient may ask for something more specific.
One drawing combined unicorns, rainbows, and penguins after a patient’s family shared a few of her favorite things. Another featured Stitch and Angel from the movie Lilo & Stitch in a watercolor-style design. Some drawings are more detailed than others and are completed little by little throughout Hatcher’s shift.
A career that became personal
For Hatcher, the drawings bring together two interests that have been part of his life for years: art and helping others.
Before becoming a respiratory therapist, Hatcher considered pursuing work as a police sketch artist. He had always enjoyed drawing people and everyday scenes, but his career path changed after his mother was hospitalized and intubated.
While visiting her, Hatcher noticed one member of the care team repeatedly checking her ventilator and breathing. Curious about the role, he learned for the first time about respiratory therapy.
The career immediately felt personal. Hatcher has had asthma throughout his life, while his mother has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). His own experiences as a pediatric inpatient help him better understand what patients may be going through when they struggle to breathe.
“I can tell my patient, ‘I know how you feel,’ and mean it,” Hatcher says. “I wish I would’ve found respiratory therapy sooner, because I love what I do.”
That connection is especially meaningful when he works with pediatric patients.
Hatcher says one of the most rewarding parts of caring for children is watching their personalities return as they begin to feel better. A child who arrived sick may soon be giggling, watching a favorite show, or playing around the room again.
“That’s the moment,” he says.
Finding variety in respiratory therapy
Hatcher initially came to UI Health Care as a contract employee before transitioning to a staff position. As a generalist, he works throughout both adult and pediatric care areas rather than staying in one unit.
The variety is one of the things he enjoys about his role. Moving between areas allows him to work with different patient populations and experience different workflows. Hatcher says it can also help reduce burnout by giving respiratory therapists a change of pace after working in a particularly challenging area.
“For me, this is the top of the food chain,” he says. “When it comes to being a respiratory therapist and using the full practice of my license, it’s the University of Iowa.”
He says being able to put so much of his training into practice is one of the reasons he has chosen to stay.
“If you want to get the full experience of your license and what you went to school for, this is perfect,” Hatcher says.
Bringing creativity to patient care
The creativity Hatcher sees from his coworkers is another part of the environment he appreciates. He has seen other staff members create drawings for patients, work with oil pastels, and make personalized nameplates for babies in the NICU.
Seeing those personal touches encouraged Hatcher to find his own way to contribute.
“Working here makes it easy for me to express my artistic side,” he says.
His drawings have also become a way to build relationships with patients and families. One family even gave Hatcher a new set of markers and encouraged him to keep creating artwork for other patients.
For children who return to the hospital regularly, those relationships can become especially meaningful. Hatcher says members of the care team can become familiar faces and an additional source of support during repeated hospital stays.
“If they’re going to see you that often, why not be that second family?” he says.
