ECMO Specialist

About the Role

ECMO Specialist is a registered Nurse who will function as an identified resource to staff in a service area to provide comprehensive patient care to a variety of patients. The RN will incorporate all members of the healthcare team to plan and deliver patient care. Will provide patient assessments and recommendations for continuity of care and will successfully deal with the most complex clinical problems as they relate to ECMO. Will demonstrate expanded knowledge base through participation in program projects and activities. May be transferred into regular staffing as required, for urgent/emergent situations.

The ECMO Specialist - RT will function as an identified resource to staff in a service area. Provide comprehensive patient care to a variety of patients. Incorporate all members of the health care team in the planning and delivery of patient care. Deal successfully with the most complex clinical problems as they relate to ECMO. Demonstrate expanded knowledge base through participation in program projects and activities. This staff member may be transferred into regular staffing as required.

Functional Accountabilities

Professional Practice/Research

• Participate in Shared Leadership.
• Contribute to CNMC's Magnet Journey.
• Ensure nursing practice is based on evidence of best practice.
• Accountable to participate in the Division of Nursing's Performance Improvement process (division or unit level).
• Participate in community activities.

Assessment and Planning

• Gather physical and psychosocial data on patient/family and anticipate problems with changes in patient status.
• Review patient findings with ECMO physician.
• Contribute to the development of an individualized plan of care with patient and family.
• Review daily parameters with the ECMO physician; review recent lab values.
• Notify ECMO physician of abnormal laboratory values and/or change in clinical status of the patient.
• Able to access ECMO circuit function and troubleshoot as necessary.

Plan of Care

• Assist in ECMO cannulation and decannulation.
• Able to provide priming and initiation of ECMO circuitry; maintain ECMO circuit, monitor patient's clinical status to include ACT levels, blood gases and metabolic status while maintaining clinical parameters; maintain pump and arterial blood gases, ACT and platelet parameters within daily parameter setting.
• Able to assist to integrate other extracorporeal support systems as needed.
• Facilitate ECMO equipment review and inventory process as defined by ECMO Leadership team; assist with data collection for ELSO database.
• Support clinical research activities by following established protocols, collect data and assist part-time specialists to do the same.
• Provide regular in-service and update to part-time specialists and critical care staff.

Evaluate Plan of Care

• Identify and document the patient and family's physical and emotional responses to care delivered.
• Accountable to establish, implement, communicate and evaluate the interdisciplinary plan of care with outcomes.
• Participate in annual review of ECMO policy and procedure manual.
• Assist ECMO program manager to plan, teach and implement regular competency review per ECMO policy.
• Take initiative to act as resource to others in the teaching/learning process.

Leadership

• Role model proficiency in ECMO skills, completeness of documentation, and organizational and prioritization skills necessary to complete assignments within acceptable time frames.
• Support department management decisions and promote a positive work environment.
• Strive to continuously improve operations through quality improvement and work to sustain results.
• Ensure accuracy of data, work and information.
• Participate in performance improvement data collection, analysis, implementation and ongoing evaluation.
• Take an active role in the orientation of new staff and assist unit preceptors in orientation of new staff.