ECMO Specialist

Company: UNC Healthcare
Location: Chapel Hill
Posted on: January 13, 2022

Job Description:

Description
Become part of an inclusive organization with over 30,000 diverse employees, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

Summary:

The ECMO Specialist (ED) provides highly technical work in delivering circulatory support for complex critically ill patients receiving cardiac and pulmonary support using extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and ventricular support through mechanical assistance. The ECMO Specialist is an expert practitioner in providing Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS). The ECMO Specialist is responsible for coordinating and delivering all aspects of ECLS consistent with professional standards and licensure, including monitoring of patient status, the extracorporeal circuit, and related technology. As a member of the ECMO team, the ES collaborates with the patient's health care team (nursing, physicians, and others) to coordinate and provide care in accordance with the patient's individualized care plan. The ECMO Specialist reports to the ECMO Program Manager, Program Director and the ECMO Advanced Clinical leadership team.

Responsibilities:
1. Evaluate, Plan and implement Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) - Demonstrates high degree of competence in managing the care of patients requiring ECLS. Utilizes knowledge regarding extracorporeal circulatory support and the effects on the body, to effectively plan, deliver and evaluate complex ECLS care in accordance with the managing physician, including population-appropriate physical, psychosocial, educational and safety aspects of care. Utilizes healthcare organization policies and procedures and ELSO standards in delivery of care. Utilizes healthcare organization policies and procedures and ELSO standards in delivery of care. Works collaboratively with the Health Care team to ensure that the patient on ECLS has adequate and organ perfusion, maintains acid base balance and hemodynamic stability within ordered parameters, has adequate oxygenation and ventilation, along with maintaining other parameters as ordered by the ECMO service physician team. Using available internal resources and systems, consults with healthcare team providing complete and appropriate information for complex continuum of care planning.
2. Patient and Family Education - independently develops, evaluates and revises individualized, age and culture-specific teaching plans for all patients and families receiving ECLS therapies. Assesses readiness to learn of the patient/family/caregivers. Assesses developmental level of patient and factors affecting ability to learn. Assists in the development of, and utilizes patient education materials relevant to patient population.
3. Problem Solving - identifies problems and utilizes critical thinking skills in finding solutions to resolve problems, following through to implement solutions.
4. Professional Education - Assumes responsibility for continuous learning and identifying professional educational needs. Develops and achieves professional goals.
5. Quality improvement - is proactively involved in the quality improvement by the identification of issues, planning, evaluation and participation in performance improvement projects.
6. Leadership - Develops goals to promote professional growth or minimize limitations. Achieves goals and objectives within identified timeframe or renegotiates with manager. Participates in activities that facilitate intra/departmental collaboration and serves as a role model for the ES Team. Functions as a consultant for ECLS therapies throughout the hospital. Participates in development and achievement of departmental goals and performance improvement activities. Effectively uses communication systems. Participates in promoting cost-effective care. Promotes a safe, clean and secure hospital environment for all.
This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular positions shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of an supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties.
Other Information Other information:
Education Requirements:
--- Associate's degree from an accredited Respiratory Therapy program or School of Nursing, or Graduation from an accredited school of Perfusion Technology.
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
--- If a Respiratory Therapist: Licensed as a Respiratory Therapist by the North Carolina Respiratory Care Board and registry eligible by the National Board of Respiratory Care.
--- If a RN: Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse n the state of North Carolina. --- If a Perfusionist: Licensed by the North Carolina Board.
Professional Experience Requirements:
--- Two (2) years of experience as a Registered Nurse or Respiratory Therapist in a NICU, PICU, Adult Surgical, Medical or Cardiovascular Unit, or applicable Perfusion experience. --- OR 3 years or related clinical experience in a comparable setting with experience caring for critically ill patients. --- Direct management of ECMO experience preferred. --- Advanced knowledge of principles and techniques of extracorporeal support preferred.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:
--- Interpersonal communication skills necessary to work with hospital employees, physicians, patients, family members and community professionals. --- Must possess exceptional critical thinking skills and deal with extreme pressure and stress. --- Ability to rotate shifts and/or work flexible hours to meet patient care needs. --- Understanding of the principles of hemodynamics in clinical work. --- Understanding of the pharmacology of vasoactive medications.
Job Details

Legal Employer: STATE
Entity : UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit : ECMO
Work Type : Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week : 36.00
Work Schedule : Night Job
Location of Job : US:NC:Chapel Hill
Exempt From Overtime : Exempt: No

Keywords: UNC Healthcare, Chapel Hill , ECMO Specialist, Other , Chapel Hill, North Carolina