Registered Nurse (RN) - CTICU - Cardiothoracic Intensive Care
The Tampa General Hospital
Tampa, FL

ECMO Specialist 1 - Cardiothoracic ICU

Job Summary The Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Specialist (ES)is responsible for the daily operation of the ECMO program under the direction of the ECMO Medical Director. The ECMO Specialist is responsible for all aspects of monitoring and troubleshooting the ECMO circuit and related equipment during the management period. They are expected to maintain and effectively assess ECMO circuit function and integrity. The ECMO Specialist independently ensures administration of blood products and medication delivery are accurate and safe for all patients ranging from young adults to geriatric. They are to work in conjunction with the bedside nurse to ensure that the patient on ECMO has adequate perfusion, corrects for proper acid-base balance and hemodynamic stability within ordered parameters, and maintains other parameters as ordered by the ECMO service. The ECMO Specialist is responsible for managing CRRT when connected in-line with ECMO circuit. They perform required technical skills with efficiency, accuracy and safety while anticipating, troubleshooting and managing crises and emergency situations according to policy and procedure. The ECMO Specialist in collaboration with the perfusionist performs quality control, quality assurance and preventive maintenance according to policy and procedure. The ECMO Specialist assumes responsibility for continuous learning, engaging in educational activities annually or pursuing advanced academic education, while developing and achieving personal and professional goals. The ECMO Specialist will maintain proactive involvement in quality improvement by the identification of issues, planning and evaluation of quality. The ECMO Specialist will assist Respiratory Care in covering staffing and/or patient care needs. They will assist the ECMO Medical Director and ECMO Coordinator in the collection/review of quality improvement initiatives, using internal and external data to benchmark with the goal of establishing best practice. Required Skills * Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing. * Licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Florida. * Three years' experience as a professional nurse, including minimum two years in a critical care and/or hospital emergency department. * A minimum of 1 year of experience as an ECMO competent professional nurse. * Maintenance of BLS and ACLS both required upon hire. PALS is required for nurses caring for the pediatric population. * Achievement of national certification-in critical care preferred and the Adult Certified ECMO Specialist (CES-A) required or ELSO Adult ECMO Practitioner Certification (E-AEC) -- within two years of hire is required.