RN ECMO Primer

Hourly Wage Estimate

$39.00 - $57.00 / hour

Job Summary

The Registered Nurse (RN) ECMO Specialist Primer coordinates and delivers high‑quality, patient‑centered care in accordance with the nature and specific requirements of the department, and consistent with the scope and standards of practice for the relevant state and specialty. The RN Primer serves as an advocate for patients, families, and caregivers and models a commitment to the organization’s vision, mission, and values to support an unparalleled patient experience. In addition, this RN performs Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy to support patients with severely impaired heart and lung function.

Major Responsibilities

• Assesses patient condition during admission and each shift, identifying and reporting any changes in status.
• Performs procedures, monitoring, or other functions as ordered by the medical provider(s) and documents the administration of care in the patient medical record in a timely and thorough manner.
• Manages and maintains cannulation cart supply and readiness.
• Performs the administration of prescribed medications, monitors patient for therapeutic response, and notifies the provider and intervenes as appropriate in the event of an unintended response.
• Teaches patients, families, and caregivers about the patient’s medical condition, status, treatment plan, medications, possible side effects, and follow‑up measures, translating complex medical terminology to ensure complete understanding.
• Manages the continuation of care by serving as the interface between health‑care providers and community support systems who coordinate ongoing care needs for specialized patient groups.
• Participates as an engaged, active member of the health‑care team and positively promotes the team to patients, families, caregivers, and colleagues.
• Demonstrates caring and empathy in all interactions and advocates for a patient‑ and family‑centered approach in all decisions and actions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Practices and adheres to the “Code of Conduct” and “Mission and Value Statement.”

Specialty‑Specific Responsibilities

• Cites indications, contraindications, risks, and benefits for veno‑arterial and veno‑venous ECMO support.
• Prepares and operates clinical equipment and circuitry per ECMO policies and procedures and maintains and effectively assesses ECMO circuit function.
• Performs all circulatory technical skills efficiently, accurately, and safely while anticipating, troubleshooting, and managing crises and emergency situations according to policy and procedure.
• Works in conjunction with the bedside nurse to manage cardiac drugs to ensure that the patient remains hemodynamically stable.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of treatment and recommends revisions to the multidisciplinary care team.
• Recognizes hypotension, hypovolemia, hypertension, and cardiac arrest during ECMO support and intervenes promptly.
• Directs transport personnel during ECMO transport to ensure patient and caregiver safety.
• Monitors pump and gas flow, ECMO weaning techniques, manages anticoagulation, and ventilatory changes during weaning, low‑flow scenarios, and trials.
• Assists patients and family members with understanding ECMO support and related care.
• Independently performs advanced ECMO skills including circuit assembly, circuit priming, wire assistance, initiation and cessation of ECMO support, pending additional training and demonstration of competency.
• Independently performs out‑of‑hospital patient ground and air transport, pending additional training and demonstration of competency.
• Maintains competencies through quarterly skills assessment or as required by the ECMO coordinator and ICU manager.
• Builds, preps, and primes ECMO circuits; maintains equipment in good working order and demonstrates effective infection control practices related to equipment operation.
• Performs ECMO initiation, maintains sterile field, and assists physician during initiation.
• Performs ECMO decannulation.
• Performs ECMO procedures such as bilateral site cannulation to dual‑lumen cannulation, transition to hybrid ECMO configuration, implantation of dual‑lumen cannula, circuit changes, including pigtail and pressure line additions, in‑house transports, and assistance to physical and occupational therapies.
• Handles ECMO circuit advanced troubleshooting and emergencies, including monitoring, thrombosis, function, equipment failure, air, and accidental decannulation.
• Instructs and mentors ECMO Specialists.
• Completes three clear primes quarterly in wet labs or clinical scenarios.
• Participates in at least one prime/ECMO initiation or circuit change.
• Works at least two 12‑hour ECMO Specialist shifts in a six‑month period.

Education & Experience

• Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing or RN Diploma Required.
• 1+ years clinical experience in Critical Care Required.
• 2+ years clinical experience in Critical Care Preferred.
• BLS required.
• ACLS required.
• CCRN required.
• CES‑A preferred.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health, and telemedicine services.
• Wellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services.
• Paid time off, paid family leave, long‑ and short‑term disability coverage, and leaves of absence.
• 401(k) plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, flexible spending accounts, preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support, and financial wellbeing counseling.
• Education support through tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships, and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing.
• Additional benefits for fertility and family building, adoption assistance, life insurance, supplemental health protection plans, auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection, and consumer discounts.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.