WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN ECMO Program?
At UT Southwestern, we bring over 75 years of healthcare excellence to the Dallas-Fort Worth community, proudly ranked the #1 hospital in the region by U.S. News & World Report. Our commitment to innovation, compassion, and teamwork creates an environment where you can grow both professionally and personally.
Our award-winning, nurse-led ECMO Program exemplifies clinical excellence, having earned the prestigious ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support - Platinum Level in 2021 and Gold Level in 2024. We provide cutting-edge VA, VV, VP, VAV, and ECPR therapies to 50-70 patients annually in our Cardiovascular ICU, specializing in advanced heart and lung failure care.
Join UT Southwestern's ECMO team and experience a collaborative culture that values professionalism and rewards dedication. Here, your career will thrive alongside passionate colleagues making a profound difference in patient lives every day.
BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
- PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
- 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
- Paid Time Off, available day one
- Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
- Paid Parental Leave Benefit
- Wellness programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
- Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!
JOB SUMMARY
As an ECMO Specialist Charge RN, you will work collaboratively under the general supervision of physicians, advanced practice providers, and nursing leadership to deliver specialized nursing care for patients supported by ECMO therapy. You will play a vital role in managing and coordinating the care of critically ill patients requiring advanced life support, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and patient-centered care.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Job Duties
- Respond to all ECMO cannulations outside the OR
- Operates the ECMO device and manages ECMO-related care for adults, children, and adolescents on ECMO including, but not limited to: ECMO circuit set up, priming, and initiation of ECMO support; interpretation of ABGs and adjustment of ECMO flow, gases, and temperature; accessing the ECMO circuit as needed for therapies such as CRRT and plasmapheresis; continuous ECMO and patient data monitoring and interpretation including hemodynamics, ECMO parameters, labs, and imaging; patient and circuit assessments, care, and maintenance; emergency interventions to any part of the ECMO circuitry
- Round on high-risk patients in CUH, to include code blue activations, ECMO watch patients and patients on mechanical circulatory support
- Participate in multidisciplinary rounds on all current ECMO patients and provide patient and/or family education as needed
- Provide support during PT/OT, bedside procedures, traveling off unit, etc.
- Monitor ECMO equipment for appropriate care and function, including adequate stock of disposable equipment and restocking of all emergency ECMO carts
- Assists with development of policies, procedures and clinical standards of care related to the ECMO program. Abides by all protocols and procedures governing the care of any patient
- Assists in the training and onboarding of other ECMO clinicians
- Quality Improvement initiatives and research
- Maintains communication with ECMO leadership team and escalation of safety events
- Maintains all competencies and continuing education requirements as set forth by the ECMO Program
- Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience
Required
- Education Graduate of an approved/accredited nursing program either by a governmental authority, nursing board and
- Experience Minimum 1 year ICU experience
- Licenses and Certifications (NLC) NURSING LICENSURE COMPACT-BNE Upon Hire and
(ACLS) ADV CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC). Required for NSICU, MICU, SICU, CVICU, ECMO Program, EM, Labor & Delivery, and Rapid Response Team Upon Hire and
(BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT Required for NSICU, MICU, SICU, NICU, CVICU, ECMO Program, EM, Labor & Delivery, and Rapid Response Team Upon Hire and
(NIHSS) Natl Inst Health Stroke Scale Required for NSICU, MICU, EM, and Rapid Response Team Upon Hire
Preferred
- Education Bachelor's Degree BSN
- Experience
3 years critical care nursing experience including a minimum of 2 years of ECMO Specialist experience
* Mechanical Circulatory Devices (IABP, Impella, LVAD)
* Charge Nurse
* Leadership, communication and critical thinking skills
* Certifications
* (CCRN) Critical Care Registered Nurse and
* (E-AEC) ELSO Adult ECMO Practitioner Certification and/or
* (CES-A) Certified ECMO Specialist - Adult
* PACT STATEMENT
- The following is the acronym, "PACT", and is fundamental to all clinical positions at UT Southwestern Medical Center:
- P-Problem Solving: To achieve excellence in patient care and service, all employees are expected to take ownership in solving problems effectively, efficiently and to the satisfaction of the patient.
- A-Ability, Attitude and Appearance: In keeping with a professional healthcare environment, all employees are expected to have the ability to perform their jobs and to appear and conduct themselves in a professional and positive manner.
- C-Communications and Compassion: It is our goal that all our communications are clear, courteous, timely, and delivered with compassion, respect and appropriate confidentiality.
- T-Teamwork: In our medical environment, our patients regard every employee they encounter as a member of the Southwestern Medical Center team. Our goal is to individually work hard to contribute to our team, support our co-workers, and to achieve not only excellent patient care and service, but also a satisfying, caring environment for each other.
SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information. To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.
EEO Statement
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.