ECMO Specialist

Children's National Hospital

3d • $44 - $97 • Onsite

About The Position

The ECMO Specialist role is an identified resource for staff in a service area and provides comprehensive patient care to a variety of patients. The position is open to registered nurses and registered respiratory therapists. The specialist works with the healthcare team to plan and deliver care, assesses patients and recommends continuity of care, and manages complex clinical problems related to ECMO. The specialist demonstrates expanded knowledge through participation in program projects and activities and may be transferred into regular staffing as required, including for urgent or emergent situations where applicable.

The role includes supporting ECMO assessment, planning, delivery, and evaluation; maintaining and troubleshooting ECMO circuitry; supporting clinical research and data collection; and contributing to staff education, competency review, quality improvement, and program operations.

Requirements

• For the RN role: Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) required; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is preferred.
• For the respiratory therapist role: a bachelor's degree in respiratory care or a related field from a four-year program is required. An associate degree with at least five years of ICU experience may be considered for PRN positions.
• At least 2 years of related clinical experience in a comparable setting.
• Registered Nurse license in the District of Columbia, or Registered Respiratory Therapist credential, as applicable to the role.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification.
• Successful completion of hospital orientation at CNMC.
• Successful completion of the CNMC ECMO course within 6 months of hire.
• Ability to organize, establish priorities, and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to make decisions and perform under tense, emotional, and stressful situations.
• Ability to solve clinical situations involving patient conditions and needs.
• Compassion and a customer-service orientation when working with families, patients, and coworkers.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to maintain clinical skills and required continuing education credits for licensure.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for the RN role.
• At least 1 year of pediatric or neonatal experience.
• Prior ECMO experience.
• Entry-level Excel and database-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Gather physical and psychosocial data on patients and families and anticipate problems associated with changes in patient status.
• Review patient findings, daily parameters, and recent laboratory values with the ECMO physician; notify the physician of abnormal results or changes in clinical status.
• Contribute to individualized plans of care with patients and families and help establish, implement, communicate, and evaluate interdisciplinary care plans and outcomes.
• Assist with ECMO cannulation and decannulation.
• Prime and initiate ECMO circuitry; maintain the circuit and monitor the patient's clinical status, including ACT levels, blood gases, and metabolic status, while maintaining clinical parameters.
• Assist with integrating other extracorporeal support systems as needed.
• Assess ECMO circuit function and troubleshoot as necessary.
• Facilitate ECMO equipment review and inventory processes and assist with data collection for the ELSO database.
• Support clinical research by following established protocols and collecting data; assist part-time specialists with these activities.
• Provide in-services and updates to part-time specialists and critical care staff.
• Identify and document patients' and families' physical and emotional responses to care.
• Participate in Shared Leadership, CNMC's Magnet Journey, evidence-based practice, performance improvement, and community activities.
• Participate in annual review of the ECMO policy and procedure manual.
• Assist the ECMO program manager with planning, teaching, and implementing regular competency reviews.
• Act as a resource in teaching and learning and take an active role in orienting new staff and assisting unit preceptors.
• Role-model ECMO proficiency, complete documentation, and effective organization and prioritization.
• Support department management decisions and promote a positive work environment.
• Contribute to continuous operational improvement and sustainment of results; ensure data, work, and information are accurate.
• Participate in performance-improvement data collection, analysis, implementation, and ongoing evaluation.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health coverage.
• Paid time off, including vacation accrual from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day.
• 401(k) plan.
• Healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage, with optional supplemental plans.
• Tuition assistance.
• Fitness resources.
• Employee assistance.
• Commuter benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree