RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONER, ECMO SPEC Position Available In Durham, North Carolina

Job Description:

At Duke Health, we’re driven by a commitment to compassionatecare that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and thegreater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us anddiscover how we can advance health together.•About Duke UniversityHospital•Pursue your passion for caring with Duke UniversityHospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently rankedamong the best in the United States and is the number one hospitalin North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health’sthree hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms,as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities,including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgerycenter, and more.

Job DescriptionThe Respiratory TherapistExtracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialist (RT ECMO Specialist)is a licensed advanced respiratory care practitioner with advancedtraining in extracorporeal life support, responsible for theoperation and management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) devices and care of patients being supported with ECMO basedon established policies and procedures and physician/advancedpractice provider (APP) order.

Duties and responsibilities Operates the ECMO device and manages ECMO-related care forneonatal, pediatric, and adult ECMO including, but not limited to:

ECMO circuit set up, priming, and initiation of ECMO support;adjustment of ECMO flow, gases, and temperature; accessing the ECMOcircuit for laboratory studies, drug, fluid, and bloodadministration, ultrafiltration, dialysis, and apheresis;continuous ECMO and patient data monitoring and interpretationincluding hemodynamics, ECMO parameters, labs, and imaging; patientand circuit assessments, care, and maintenance; emergencyinterventions to any part of the ECMO circuitry including ECMOcatheters. Demonstrates expertise in caring for patients with multiple orcomplex conditions in which ECMO may be indicated; ECMO physiologyincluding effects of congenital anatomical defects and palliations,various cannulation strategies and support modalities and impact ofadditional cardiopulmonary support devices. Ensures appropriate ECMO patient care, anticipating,identifying and correcting problems associated with any ECMOprocedures or technology and collaborates with the care team todeliver superior patient care including the knowledge, clinical andcommunication skills to direct and deliver critical troubleshootingand emergency response for patients on ECMO support; functionsindependently following standing orders and ECMO policies,procedures, and protocols. Coordinates activities such as turns, baths, dressing changes,diagnostic testing, procedures, and patient mobility with the careteam to directly support and maintain patency of the cannulae aswell as stability of cardiopulmonary support while patient isundergoing ECMO. Actively participates in ECMO patient rounds to shareinformation and determine appropriateness of patient care plans;maintains communication with ECMO Leadership Team regardingconcerns and variances as well as any ECMO patient complications;utilizes the ECMO electronic record to maintain ongoing completeand detailed documentation of patient and ECMO parameters; providesfamily/parental education and reinforces medical counselinginitiated by the physician and advanced practice provider team;provides a clear and concise end of shift report for oncoming ECMOSpecialist regarding ECMO settings, patient status, and patientcare plans; provide orientation, education and training for Dukeresidents and fellows, interdisciplinary partners in assignedunits, new hires, and students. Supports ECMO team qualityimprovement initiatives and research through the collection ofECMO-related data, preparation, and presentation of researchabstracts and/or other documentation. Contributes to themaintenance of the environment of care including cleanliness andstocking. Maintains all competencies and continuing educationrequirements as set forth by the Department of Respiratory CareServices, the Duke ECMO Program, Duke University Hospital, and theState of North Carolina including competence in allresponsibilities of the Respiratory Care Practitioner Advanced asRT ECMO Specialists will be floated to assist respiratory carepractitioners as assigned during times of low ECMO census.

RequiredQualifications at this LevelEducation Completion of a two-year CoARC approved respiratory careprogram (Associates Degree or equivalent) required. Bachelor Degree preferred.

Experience Two years’ experience in clinical respiratory therapy,including one•year experience in intensive care respiratoryrequired. ECMO experience preferred. Experience working in a team environment and excellentcommunication skills. Computer skills required, prior experience with electronicmedical record systems preferred. Demonstrated leadership, effective communicator, and excellentcritical thinking skills.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification North Carolina State Licensure with ECMO verification, requiredwithin 90 days of hire. Registry (RRT) by the National Association for Respiratory Care(NBRC), required. AHA Basic Life Support (BLS), required. AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), required. AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), required. ELSO Adult ECMO Practitioner Certification (E-AEC) requiredwithin 12 months for current teammates. New hires, or thosetransferring into the role will have 12 months from their hire ortransfer date, into the ECMO Specialist role. Once released (anticipated date January, 2025), the ELSOPediatric ECMO Practitioner Certification (E-PEC) will be requiredwithin 12 months for current teammates. New hires, or thosetransferring into the role will have 12 months from their hire ortransfer date, into the ECMO Specialist role.

Knowledge, Skills, andAbilities Knowledge necessary to make appropriate clinical decisions andinteraction relative to the specific age of a patient. Skills validation/competencies for the duties andresponsibilities required for a Respiratory Care Practitioner,Advanced Skills validation/competencies for the duties andresponsibilities required for an ECMO Specialist. Maintain ECMO Continuing Education requirements as specified bythe State of North Carolina Respiratory Care Board as well as theDuke ECMO Program including attendance and participation inspecified continuing education activities, competencies, andminimum direct ECMO patient care hours. Ability to work flexible hours, which may include days,evenings, nights, holidays, and weekends and on-call. Ability to adapt to unpredictable situations within the worksetting. Ability to triage and prioritize multiple priorities in highacuity patient care. Must maintain annual safety/compliance requirements. Must maintain North Carolina annual license requirements forCEUs. Work may require lifting or pushing in excess of 50pounds. Work requires walking, running, climbing, and bending.•Dukeis an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed toproviding employment opportunity without regard to an individual’sage, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity,genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexualorientation, or veteran status.•Duke aspires to create acommunity built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, andbelonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange ofideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of ourperspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achievethis exchange, it is essential that all members of the communityfeel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individualsare respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of ourcommunity have a responsibility to uphold these values.•

EssentialPhysical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and DukeUniversity Health System may include essentialjob functions thatrequire specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additionalinformation and provision for requests for reasonable accommodationwill be provided by each hiring department.•