ECMO Specialist

ECMO Specialist (RN or Respiratory Therapist)

Cincinnati, Ohio

Part time

At Cincinnati Children's, we come to work with one goal: to make children's health better. As one of the nation's top pediatric health systems, we care for the most complex and critically ill patients-and our ECMO program is at the forefront of life-saving innovation and outcomes.

Position Overview

The PRN ECMO Specialist (RN or Respiratory Therapist) provides expert bedside management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for neonatal, pediatric, and cardiac patients. This role is a critical member of a highly specialized, multidisciplinary team responsible for the initiation, monitoring, and management of ECMO circuits in high-acuity environments including the CICU, PICU, and NICU.

This is an as-needed (PRN) role supporting variable coverage needs, including on-call and emergent ECMO activations.

Key Responsibilities

Provide continuous monitoring and management of patients on ECMO support, ensuring optimal circuit function and patient safety

Assist with ECMO initiation, troubleshooting, and weaning in collaboration with perfusionists, intensivists, and surgeons

Respond to emergent ECMO activations and provide on-call support as needed

Monitor hemodynamics, gas exchange, and circuit integrity; promptly identify and escalate concerns

Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with institutional standards

Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, family-centered care

Participate in ongoing education, simulation training, and competency validation

Support quality improvement and evidence-based practice initiatives within the ECMO program

Qualifications

Current Registered Nurse (RN) OR Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) license in the state of Ohio

Minimum of 2 years of critical care experience required (PICU, NICU, CICU, or adult ICU)

ECMO experience required

Current BLS and ACLS required; PALS required or obtained within designated timeframe

Strong critical thinking and ability to perform in high-stress, fast-paced environments

Excellent communication and teamwork skills

Preferred Qualifications

Pediatric ECMO experience

Experience in a high-acuity academic medical center

Prior participation in ECMO transport or mobile ECMO programs

Advanced certifications (e.g., CCRN, C-NPT, or specialty RT credentials)

Why Join Cincinnati Children's?

Nationally recognized leader in pediatric and cardiac critical care

High-volume ECMO program with complex case mix

Collaborative, team-based culture focused on innovation and excellence

Opportunities to contribute to education, research, and program development

PRN/as-needed position

Variable shifts including days, nights, weekends, and holidays

On-call requirement with defined response time for emergent ECMO support

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Equipment Maintenance- Coordinates with Clinical Engineering department the preventative maintenance and routine equipment checks of all ECMO related equipment. Familiar with entire disposable inventory management process; includes inventory management, ordering, and receiving. Development of processes for equipment maintenance. Knowledge of how equipment functions, educate functions and create process. Coordinate with outside vendors for maintenance and preventative maintenance. Equipment Management

• Critical Thinking- Demonstrates strong critical thinking skills by making appropriate clinical decisions. Rapidly prioritizes both planned and unplanned events and proactively addresses actual and potential problems. Directing others to solve complex problems.

• Collaboration- Collaborates with team members in shared decision-making. Proactively seeks the contribution of the interdisciplinary team in team meetings and discussions regarding patient care and/or practice issues. Coaches others to respect the contribution of the entire team. Assists others to work collaboratively valuing the contributions of the various disciplines in patient/practice issues. Is an active member on point-of-care or divisional councils, committees, task forces or projects by contributing to decision making. Works to build consensus. Explains complex and sensitive processes/information.

• Operations- Designs and assembles ECMO circuits and prepares the circuit for patient use. Operates, maintains, calibrates and performs quality control testing on all point of care laboratory equipment as per Cincinnati Children's Clinical Laboratory's protocols and CLIA requirements. Provide support for other extracorporeal technologies within the scope of licensure and as needed such as VAD and CRRT. Initiation with the provider/surgeon; implementation and management with surgeon/provider. Providers place access for ECMO and the ECMO staff initiates and manages ECMO support, as well as additional extracorporeal therapies, as guided by clinical functions based on protocols.

• Process Improvement- Uses clinical inquiry and performance review to improve. Questions appropriateness of policies and guidelines and procedures; questions current practice; seeks advice, resources, or information to improve processes; begins to compare and contrast possible alternatives. Assists with development of competence in peers; formally, by precepting new ECMO specialists, and informally, by sharing knowledge at the point-of-care. Uses self-appraisal performance review and peer review, including annual goal setting, for assurance of competence and professional development to promote safe and ethical practice. Coaches and mentors others. Facilitates learning for members of the healthcare team. Precepting and provides all of continuing education. Development and Maintenance of competence in peers by precepting and facilitating ongoing education requirements. Not just question but develop and implement. Questions appropriateness. Solves complex problems; takes a new perspective on existing solutions; exercises judgment based on the analysis of multiple sources of information.

Independence, Direction and Accountability. Function as perfusionist in RN/RT scope.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related field

• Requires RN/RRT clinical license, certification and training OR advanced training in circulation technology from a CAAHEP accredited program AND Certification by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion OR eligible and actively pursuing with attainment in the first year of employment

• 2+ years of work experience in a related job

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation discipline

Schedule

Part time

• Expected Starting Pay Range
• Annualized pay may vary based on FTE status

$44.00 - $56.10