What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior ECMO Specialist - Galveston (Nights) position at UTMB Health?
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.
Equal Employment Opportunity
UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.