EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree from a CoARC-accredited School for Respiratory Therapy or equivalent and ten (10) years of directly related critical care experience in adult, neonatal, and/or pediatric care, including at least three (3) years of ECMO experience; OR
• Bachelor's degree in Nursing or equivalent and seven (7) years of directly related critical care experience in adult, neonatal, and/or pediatric care, including at least three (3) years of ECMO experience.
• Demonstrated experience serving as an ECMO preceptor, educator, primer, or advanced clinical resource.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Master's degree in nursing, respiratory therapy, healthcare administration, or a related field.
• Experience supporting ECMO quality improvement, program data, simulation, education, scheduling, or supply/equipment operations.
• Experience across multiple ECMO patient populations or care environments.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS OR CERTIFICATIONS
Required:
• Current Registered Nurse license or valid permit to practice in Texas or a compact state; OR Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
• National ECMO certification at hire or within twenty-four (24) months of placement in the role.
Preferred:
• Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS), Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty (NPS), CCRN, or other applicable specialty certification.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Senior ECMO Specialist provides advanced clinical care for adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients receiving extracorporeal life support (ECLS) & mechanical circulatory support (MCS). The position serves as a lead clinical resource and preceptor for ECMO Specialists; supports daily
staffing, education, quality improvement, data collection, and program operations; and assists the ECMO Program Manager with implementation of program standards. This is a working clinical role without formal responsibility for employee performance management.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Advanced Clinical Practice
• Provides direct ECMO care and independently manages complex or high-risk cases within established protocols and scope of practice.
• Primes and prepares ECLS & MCS circuits & devices, including blood priming when indicated; supports cannulation, initiation, transport, component exchange, utrafiltration & hemodialysis, weaning, and decannulation procedures.
• Safely lead and coordinate inter-facility and intra-facility ECLS & MCS transport. Ensure safe patient handling, circuit integrity, equipment functionality and ordered ECMO flows are maintained.
• Assesses patient condition, circuit performance, hemodynamics, laboratory results, anticoagulation, oxygenator function, pump flow, and sweep; implements and evaluates interventions consistent with protocol and provider orders.
• Leads troubleshooting and emergency response for air, clot, pump failure, oxygenator failure, circuit disruption, and other ECMO-related complications; escalates concerns to the ECMO physician and Program Manager as appropriate.
• Participates in clinical call and staffing rotations and provides advanced support across assigned patient populations and care environments.
Clinical Leadership and Staff Development
• Serves as shift-level lead and clinical resource for ECMO Specialists, bedside nurses, respiratory therapists, and the interdisciplinary care team.
• Precepts and mentors ECMO Specialists; validates assigned competencies and provides real time coaching and feedback in collaboration with the ECMO Program Manager.
• Assists with orientation, simulation, annual competency review, continuing education, and remediation plans.
• Promotes adherence to protocols, documentation standards, safety practices, and escalation expectations.
• Provides operational direction during assigned shifts or cases but does not conduct formal performance evaluations or corrective action.
Program Operations and Coordination
• Assists the ECMO Program Manager with daily staffing coordination, call coverage, workload balancing, and response to unplanned coverage needs.
• Supports equipment and supply readiness, inventory monitoring, product evaluation, and communication of supply or equipment concerns.
• Assists with maintenance of program records, competency documentation, case reviews, and data collection for internal and external reporting.
• Serves as a liaison among clinical teams to support timely communication and coordinated ECMO care.
• Provides coverage for defined operational responsibilities when delegated by the ECMO Program Manager.
Quality Improvement and Evidence-Based Practice
• Participates in case reviews, audits, quality assurance activities, and development or refinement of clinical workflows.
• Identifies trends, safety concerns, and improvement opportunities and recommends actions to the ECMO Program Manager and medical leadership.
• Assists with implementation of approved policies, procedures, protocols, and evidence-based practices.
• Participates in program education, unit governance, evidence-based practice initiatives, and dissemination of learning within the ECMO team.
