ECMO Specialist

Exceptional care starts with exceptional people.

For us, this is more than a job– it’s a calling. It’s waking up each day, looking for ways to make a difference with a compassionate, inclusive and talented team. Ochsner empowers you to discover your passion, reach your potential, and Pursue Your Purpose. Exceptional care starts with exceptional people and teams. Together we are leading the way.

This job utilizes the skills taught through in-house training, certification, recertification, and skills validation to safely and effectively deliver specialized comprehensive care to a variety of patient populations by operating and managing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) equipment under the supervision of ECMO Program Manager and ECMO physicians. Incorporates all members of the health care team in the planning and delivery of care to the patient; demonstrates expertise in caring for patients with multiple or complex problems by monitoring the patient’s status and ECMO circuit; maintains the ECMO pump and manages the ECMO patient; assumes responsibility for identifying and correcting problems associated with ECMO procedures; and provides ECMO services as ordered by a physician in accordance with established policies and procedures.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Ochsner's discretion.
 

Education 

Required - Associate degree in Nursing, completion of an AMA approved Respiratory Care program or Certified Clinical Perfusionist.

Preferred - Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Work Experience

Required - 1 year strong critical care experience

Preferred - 1 year of pediatric/neonatal experience

Certifications

Required - Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association

Current State of Louisiana RN License OR Completion of an AMA approved Respiratory Care program with current Louisiana State License as Respiratory Therapist, Credentialed by the National Board of Respiratory Care as an active Registered Respiratory Therapist or Certified Respiratory Therapist that has been grandfathered by the ECMO Medical Director

Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Must have computer skills and dexterity required for data entry and retrieval of information.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present information clearly and professionally.
• Must be proficient with Windows-style applications, various software packages specific to role and keyboard.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively support management decisions and promote a positive work environment.
• Strong organizational skills in order to deal with multiple tasks at the same time.
• Ability to manage stress in order to maintain a professional demeanor when dealing with ECMO physicians, co-workers, patients, and patients’ families
  Ability to communicate effectively with ECMO physician and members of the healthcare team.
• Sound judgment in assessing patient and family needs.
• Refined analytical skills in order to interpret results of medical tests and act upon these results within the parameters defined by the ECMO physician.

Job Duties

• Assessment and planning of daily ECMO course with healthcare team.
• Management the ECMO patient
• Management and maintenance of the ECMO pump
• Collection and management of quality improvement data
• Adapts behavior to the specific patient population, including but not limited to: respect for privacy, method of introduction to the patient, adapting explanation of services or procedures to be performed, requesting permissions and communication style.
• Other related duties as required.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time.

Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards.

Complies with the Ochsner Health System Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance-related concerns.

Ochsner is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
 

Physical and Environmental Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Very Heavy Work - Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Heavy Work.  (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.

Mechanical lifting devices (carts, dollies, etc.) or team lifts should be utilized.
Must be able to stoop, bend, reach and grab with arms and hands, manual dexterity.
Must be able to sit or stand for prolonged periods of time.
Must be able to travel throughout and between facilities.
Must be able to work a flexible work schedule (24/7, weekend, holiday, on call availability). 

Duties performed routinely require exposure to blood, body fluid and tissue.

The incumbent works in a patient care area; works in an area where patients enter; works directly with patients; and/or works with specimens that could contain diseases. There may be an occupational risk for exposure to all communicable diseases.

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply Today!

Ochsner Health does not consider an individual an applicant until they have formally applied to the open position on this careers website.

Please refer to the job description to determine whether the position you are interested in is remote or on-site. Individuals who reside in and will work from the following areas are not eligible for remote work position: Colorado, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D.C.

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Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected class, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.