ECMO Specialist

About the Role

Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children has provided compassionate care to the children, teenagers, and young adults of Central Florida for over 30 years. Located on the downtown Orlando campus, the hospital includes 156 licensed beds for specialized pediatric care, the Bert Martin’s Champions for Children Emergency Department & Trauma Center, and is the pediatric site of the Orlando Health ORMC Level One Trauma Center. The hospital is recognized for nursing excellence with "Magnet" status and has earned national recognition as a "Best Children’s Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report for 12 consecutive years.

The Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator (ECMO) Specialist is responsible for the daily operation of Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) under the direction of ECMO Leadership. Specialists perform technical skills with efficiency, accuracy, and safety, troubleshoot and manage crises, and ensure patient care aligns with policy and procedure.

Shift: Night - VFT

Responsibilities

• Provides daily staffing for ECLS services and communicates with physicians, perfusionists, and healthcare team members to interpret, adjust, and complete treatment-specific care for ECMO patients.
• Works in multiple intensive care units, offering ECLS support for neonate, pediatric, and adult populations.
• Performs scheduled, unscheduled, and emergency ECLS in both hospital and pre-hospital settings.
• Operates all ECMO equipment under the direction of MD/perfusion providers.
• Monitors and troubleshoots the ECMO circuit and related equipment during management.
• Accurately administers blood products and medications through the ECMO circuit.
• Manages equipment connected in-line with the ECMO circuit.
• Manages ECLS during transports and ensures continuous ECLS coverage through cooperative scheduling.
• Attends mandatory quarterly simulations.
• Performs quality control, quality assurance, and preventive maintenance according to policy.
• Maintains a safe and clean equipment and working environment.
• Adheres to guidelines set by state, federal, and regulatory agencies.
• Participates in quality improvement activities related to patient care/services.
• Maintains equipment and supplies for ECMO/perfusion services and provides pertinent information to supervisors.
• Provides critical resource support to APH critical care areas or other areas as directed by leadership when not providing ECLS services.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited nursing or respiratory therapy program.
• Maintains licensure as a Registered Nurse or Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the State of Florida Department of Health.
• Current BLS/HealthCare Provider Certification.
• Must obtain NRP, PALS, and ACLS certifications within 6 months of hire.
• Successful completion of an ELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) endorsed or equivalent ECMO provider course within 6 months of hire.

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience in an ICU environment (pediatric experience preferred).
• Previous ECMO experience preferred.