Major Responsibilities: 

Manages the planning, promotion, and management of operations for ECMO to ensure quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. 

    1)Provides Clinical information to Case Managers and utilization review with relation to appropriateness of care. 

    2)Understands and supports the RN/RT model. Promotes participation from the staff. 

    3)Reports critical path variances to Physicians, Perfusion, and Clinical Operations Managers of Departments.  

    4)Manages staffing requirements (assigns daily staff work assignments related to ECMO, and enforces appropriate utilization of resources. Reports staffing variances to Clinical Operations Directors. 

    5)In conjunction with the Clinical Operations Directors , leads short and long term planning for clinical operations for the department (to include budgetary needs). 

    6)Participates in multidisciplinary rounds and family care conferences. 

    7)Manages point -of -care testing related QC and record keeping. collaborating with point-of-care coordinators.  

    8)Implement measures to improve quality of care and monitors patient satisfaction. 

    9)Cognizant of patient population. Facilitates patient's progress on critical paths or best practice guidelines.  

    10)Is the clinical resource and mentor for staff. Acts as a role model. 11. Promotes a positive customer relations for effective and efficient daily operation. 12. Provides direct patient care when patient acuity is high and staffing is impacted .Will also supplement staffing when there are high volumes of surgical cases. 13. Manages ECMO program (to include ordering of supplies, data collection, participates in case management, works closely with physician and perfusionists.)  

Provides oversight to the ECMO transport program.. Projection, evaluation, monitoring and upkeep of all responsible ECMO and equipment and supplies. 

    1)Evaluates current and new equipment, supplies and facilities based on the effectiveness, cost-efficiency and dependability. 

    2)Tracks all purchases of equipment and/or supplies, and identifies invoice to be paid before submitting for payment approval. 

Utilizes the performance improvement process to assess outcomes and contributes to the design of improved processes. Makes recommendations for patient care to achieve quality and superior services related to ECMO . 

    1)Manages performance improvement projects 

    2)Implements monitoring systems defined for the unit to evaluate the quality and adequacy of patient care. 

    3)Communicates results of monitoring to Physicians, Managers , Director and other healthcare team members as appropriate. 

    4)Implements measures to correct deficiencies. 

    5)Demonstrates expertise of the standards of the regulatory agencies. 

Performs evaluation of current and new equipment and supplies related to ECMO . 

    1)Utilization of literature, external resources, internal input and/or feedback and any other resources which may provide a more global evaluation. 

    2)Assesses rental and/or repair needs. 

    3)Processes all incoming equipment and supplies. 

    4)Processes special orders via purchasing as necessary. 

Promotion and support of an environment that is conducive to staff growth and development, job engagement and professional autonomy 

    1)Implements retention and recruitment strategies. 

    2)Manages and implementation of programs and practices designed to improve morale, employee behavior, working conditions and communication between team members. 

    3)Manages development, implementation and evaluation of the orientation program for the Children's Hospital, specific department orientation and ECMO specialist orientation. 

    4)Development of competency-based education for associates related to ECMO . 

    5)Fosters ongoing professional education for staff by assisting with evaluation of perfomance, assessment of needs, and assisting individuals with identification of professional goals. 

    6)Requires participation and leadership in educational opportunities. 

    7)Provides performance review feedback for staff on a timely basis with an emphasis on development goals. 

    8)Provides and Implements feedback related to disciplinary action and reports . 

    9)Tracks and Maintains education compliance and ECMO hours for all ECMO specialists. 

    10)Coordinates and Develops simulation education and ongoing education with physician director and pediatric perfusionist for all ECMO specialists. 

Responsible for personal and professional growth and development. 

    1)Keeps abreast of current standards of care via literature, educational events, internal and external resources and internal and external networking. 

    2)Maintains memberships and actively supports/participates in professional and community organizations. 

    3)Participates in activities to enhance professional growth by involvement in professional organizations and continuing education. 

    4)Actively seeks out and obtains advanced credentialing, training and education commensurate with the "clinical expert." 

    5)Actively participates in "hands on" patient care to maintain skills. 

Projection, development and implementation of policies and procedures relating to ECMO . 

    1)Assures compliance with policies and procedures via one on one assessment and supervision. 

    2)Provides immediate feedback upon encountering deviation of policy and procedure. Reports all incidents to Inpatient Operations Director. 

    3)Develops policies and procedures related to ECMO . 

Projection, development, implementation and participation of education standards related to ECMO . 

    1)Consults in partnership with Chief Perfusionist (pediatrics) and Medical Director(s) in order to integrate standards of practice related to ECMO . 

    2)Coordinates the development of Clinical Practice Guidelines in conjunction with the ELSO guidelines, AARC guidelines, American Academy of Pediatrics, Medical Director(s), Chief Perfusionist and Director. 

    3)Consults in partnership with Director , Chief Perfusionist and Medical Director to assure that standards of practice are driven down, supported and practiced at the staff level. 

Assistance to Inpatient Operations Director as requested. 

    1)Promotes patient safety by reporting of issues through established channels and participating as requested in safety initiatives. 

    2)Performs assigned tasks/responsibilities as requested by the Director of Inpatient Operations. 

    3)Acts as a liaison between staff, physicians, nursing, other healthcare providers, managers and directors. 

    4)Reports all unusual occurrences to include hazardous or life-threatening situations and/or extreme emergencies to Director and Patient safety. 

    5)Assists Director of Inpatient Operations in tracking patient related procedures, charges and associated paperwork. ( ELSO data/records.) 

 
 Licensure: 

Nurse, Registered (RN) OR Perfusion 

  
Education/Experience Required: 

Graduate of a program, nursing, respiratory, perfusion. Bachelors degree • 2+ years supervisory or lead experience • 2+ years respiratory care experience * 2+ years ECMO, experience 2+ years nursing experience  

 
 Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: 

Strong, interpersonal, clinical, facilitating, problem- solving, education and communication skills which is critical to the “expert” role of this position, maintaining the Standard of Practice and inter- action with hospital manage- ment staff. • Must be able to support and work within a multidiscipline- nary and operational improvement team approach environment which incorporates team building skills as well as change management skills • Must be able to work within a direct line and dotted line reporting organizational structure which incorporates motivational and consensus building skills.  

Current license in the State of Illinois as a Respiratory Care Practitioner or Registered Nurse or Perfusionist • BLS certified. * NRP & PALS certified * Willing to obtain the Specialty certification.  

 
 Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:  

Candidate must be willing to participate in outside professional activities to include educational and networking activities. • Candidate may come in contact with potentially hazardous situations such as administration of specific care giver precaution medications (Ribovirin/Pentimadine) and may be exposed to specific contagious disease states as well as blood and body fluids. • The candidate must be willing to perform the job function on off-shift hours as well as attend outside educational activities, participate in outside professional activities and maintain a high level of current standard of care practices. * Candidate must be accountable 24 hours per day seven days per week. Candidate in times of need may be required to assist in staffing. • Ability to travel locally, as well as long-distance travel. • Ability to work within stressful conditions and difficult situations. • Resilient and flexible in a changing environment. • Ability to cooperate and work well with others. • Ability to make sound and timely decisions. • This position will need to recognize needs and behaviors of a variety of age groups of patients treated, i.e.: understand child growth and development, normal patterns of adolescent behavior and look for signs of normal aging; prior experience with various age groups is required. • The candidate will have >10% patient contact.  Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

 
  
This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.