ECMO Specialist In Training

Job Location: Washington D.C. area

Employment Type: Full-Time

Job Summary:

The ECMO Specialist in Training is a precursor to the ECMO Specialist I. The ECMO Specialist in Training will develop the basic entry-level knowledge to become an ECMO Specialist I through a systematic educational experience consisting of didactic training, wet labs, and precepted bedside hours.

Job Responsibilities:

• Skills and Knowledge:

  • Excellent communication skills are necessary to work with all hospital employees, physicians, patients, family members, and community professionals.

  • Has completed IEC onboarding and preliminary credentialing.

• Training:

  • Develop skills and knowledge related to extracorporeal life support through the completion of ECLS education modules, wet labs, and hands-on circuit training.

  • Introduction to multiple ECLS systems including: Cardiohelp, CentriMag, Spectrum, & Rotaflow.

  • Bedside precepted hours with tenured ECMO Specialists.

  • Demonstrate competency during training and assessments with all ECLS equipment and ancillary tools.

  • New Specialists will demonstrate safe and conscientious practices with a preceptor and complete basic ECLS competency prior to solo staffing.

  • ECLS knowledge assessments will be performed to aid recognition of individual strengths and weaknesses to foster personalized education & training.

• Competencies:

  • Mastery of the following competencies required:

    • Complete competencies on one ECLS pump system prior to the first solo deployment.

    • Complete competencies in Cardiohelp and at least one variety of a component system pump within the first 3 months of employment.

• Demonstrate a complete circuit check and verbalize the significance of the findings and potential concerns.

• Activate and set appropriate alarms on any pump to which they’ve been oriented.

• Properly identify alarms and respond appropriately.

• Interpret ABGs and make appropriate sweep changes based on standard sweep calculation as directed.

• Make appropriate adjustments to blood flow as directed and anticipate the changes in pressure and flow variables being monitored.

• Recognize changes in venous, pre-oxygenator, post-oxygenator, and delta pressures and verbalize the significance, possible concerns or complications, and potential causes.

• Verbalize two situations when it is appropriate to hand crank.

• Demonstrate how to use a hand crank properly or switch to a backup pump (Centrimag) on any piece of equipment to which they’ve been oriented.

• Recognize venous air and respond appropriately.

• Demonstrate safe removal of arterial air.

• Recognize two types of oxygenator failure and make appropriate recommendations.

• Demonstrate the ability to zero transducers and flush pigtails as needed.

• Demonstrate how to change a cracked pigtail and/or stopcock safely and efficiently.

• Demonstrate how to make temperature changes on any heater/cooler system.

• Documentation:

  • Responsibly use ADP and Concur apps/websites to log hours worked location and work-related expenses. Efficiently employ technology to independently schedule flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.

• Communication:

  • IEC has a robust administrative team promoting an expanding business model pursuant to multiple avenues of patient support opportunities. An ECMO Specialist in Training will communicate professionally and in a timely manner with an administrative team that includes Scheduling & Logistics, Credentialing, as well as Leadership personnel.

  • Promote IEC culture and professional standards in a positive manner.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree desirable in nursing, respiratory care, or perfusion technology from an accredited training program. Associate degree with 2-3 years of related Critical Care &/or ECLS experience will be considered in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree.

• Maintain unencumbered professional licenses (RN, RRT, CCP). Additional individual state licenses may be necessary.

• Maintain AHA credentials in BLS

• Thorough understanding of anatomy, physiology

• Excellent communication skills are necessary to work with all hospital employees, physicians, co-workers, and community professionals.

• Must possess exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to quickly develop relationships with existing and potential customers.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to effectively communicate and perform in stressful situations.

• Must be able to stand, walk, see, hear, read, speak, and write for prolonged periods without accommodations.

• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

• Must be able to move or reposition patients of any weight or size with assistance.

Compensation and Benefits:

• During the ECMO training period, the starting base pay for the position will be $42,500 per year, paid at an exempt, salary basis.
• Innovative ECMO Concepts (IEC) is proud to offer 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental insurance for full-time employees. IEC covers 70% of the health, vision, and dental insurance costs for full-time employees' dependents. Eligible dependents may be added to the employee's benefits selections, with 30% of the premium costs deducted from the employee's payroll.
• Full-time employees are covered under the IEC term life, accidental death and dismemberment, and short and long-term disability plans. IEC pays premiums on behalf of the employee.
• Full-Time employees are eligible to participate in our Simple IRA, with the company matching up to 3%.
• IEC benefits do not require a waiting period, so benefits are effective the first of the month following benefits enrollment.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) is offered to Full-Time employees.

About Innovative ECMO Concepts:

Founded in 2014, Innovative ECMO Concepts (IEC) assembled a group of ECLS experts who shared a single vision and passion: to support the ECLS community. Innovative ECMO Concepts saw firsthand the need for more consistent, evidence-based ECMO training, education, and practice. Our mission and vision were born from our goal to increase ECMO knowledge and provide excellent quality care to the ECMO population. Our intent is to support the ECLS community by providing ECMO training and expertise to advance the rapidly growing ECLS field. We are the only company offering a complete service package, utilizing leaders in the ECLS community.