Ecmo Specialist

Overview

The ECMO Specialist is responsible for all aspects of assembling, priming, maintaining, monitoring, and troubleshooting mechanical circulatory/ECMO equipment and circuits from set-up and throughout the management period. They work in conjunction with the bedside nurse to ensure that the patient on mechanical circulatory/ECMO support has adequate oxygenation, perfusion, corrects for proper acid base balance and hemodynamic stability within ordered parameters, and maintains other parameters as ordered by the internally credentialed ECMO provider. They perform the required technical skills with efficiency, accuracy and safety while anticipating, troubleshooting, and managing crisis according to policies and procedures. They will assist ECMO Leadership in the collection/review of quality improvement initiatives, using internal and external data to benchmark with the goal of establishing best practice.

Responsibilities/Job Description

Job Expectations:

• Provides Mechanical Circulatory and Extracorporeal Life Support to patients of all ages

• Practices at the level of an expert practitioner in nursing or respiratory care

• Assembles, monitors, and conducts assessment of all extracorporeal life support equipment, circuitry, and adjunct therapies used (ie: ultrafiltration, continues A-V hemodialysis, etc.)

• Participates in the evaluation of new equipment and implementation of new technology

• Mentors and participates in the training of new ECMO Specialists and ECMO trained nurses

• Collaborates with the physician and healthcare team in the delivery of patient care

• Communicates effectively with all health care team members

• Provides excellent customer service by listening and understanding customer needs

Organization Expectations, as applicable:

• Demonstrates ability to provide care or service adjusting approaches to reflect developmental level and cultural differences of population served.

• Partners with patient care giver in care/decision making.

• Communicates in a respective manner.

• Ensures a safe, secure environment.

• Individualizes plan of care to meet patient needs.

• Modifies clinical interventions based on population served.

• Provides patient education based on as assessment of learning needs of patient/care giver.

• Fulfills all organizational requirements.

• Completes all required learning relevant to the role.

• Complies with and maintains knowledge of all relevant laws, regulation, policies, procedures and standards.

• Fosters a culture of improvement, efficiency and innovative thinking.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

Education

• Nurse Track: Bachelor's in Nursing (BSN) OR
• Respiratory Therapist Track: Graduate from a CoARC or JCRTE approved program in Respiratory Therapy and a Bachelor's Degree.

Experience

• 3 years critical care experience

License/Certification/Registration

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

• Nurse Track: Minnesota RN License OR

• Respiratory Therapist Track: Respiratory Therapist License issued by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)

Preferred

Experience

• 5 years critical care experience

License/Certification/Registration

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification

• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification