Job ECMO RN Specialist, Cardiovascular ICU

Cardiovascular Intensive Care Nurse

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission.

Nursing: Nursing provides patient care, promotes health, prevents illness and supports positive patient care outcomes through comprehensive care and patient advocacy.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Job Subfamily

Cardiovascular Intensive Care nurses provide care in the cardiac ICU for patients, focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of pre- and post-operative cardiac and thoracic surgery care. These nurses specialize in the care of critically ill patients with heart and vascular conditions in an intensive care unit. They provide advanced medical care to patients with complex cardiovascular issues, often requiring advanced, specialized interventions and equipment.

Career Level

N5: Delivers expert-level, hands-on care to the most complex and high-acuity patients. Anticipates clinical needs, adapts rapidly to changing conditions, and sets the standard for bedside excellence. Functions as the go-to clinician for the most challenging cases. Demonstrates mastery of clinical knowledge, procedures, and interventions. Applies deep understanding of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and advanced technologies in real-time patient care. Recognized for clinical intuition and precision. Manages the most complex, unstable, or rare patient presentations. Rapidly synthesizes data to make critical decisions. Anticipates complications and intervenes proactively. Operates with full clinical independence. Makes high-stakes decisions in real time. Trusted to manage care in unpredictable or resource-limited situations without oversight. Collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes. Provides bedside coaching and real-time clinical guidance to peers. Models calm, confident communication in high-pressure scenarios.

Essential Functions

• Functions as a master level bedside clinician for the highest acuity cases (e.g., cardiogenic shock, refractory arrhythmias, post cardiac surgery instability, RV/LV failure, multi system collapse) and integrates device/ventilation strategies accordingly.
• Directs protocolized bedside actions during ECMO/MCS emergencies (e.g., oxygenator failure, flow instability, critical device alarms) and activates rapid transfusion steps per protocol.
• Leads pre-transport bedside stabilization (ECMO checks, anticoagulation parameters, ventilator management) and confirms readiness checklists before transport handoff; maintains closed loop communication throughout.
• Anticipates complications and initiates time critical corrective actions (within scope/protocol), documenting actions, rationale, and outcomes.
• Provides on scene coaching and authoritative, bedside direction during crises; ensures role clarity and immediate next steps.
• Maintains deep mastery of advanced CV pathophysiology, device interactions, anticoagulation strategies, and perfusion goals at the bedside; completes and applies unit validations as it applies to ECMO/MCS.
• Coordinates interdisciplinary actions in the room to optimize immediate outcomes; confirms patient status messaging during handoffs.
• Oversees direct patient care during extreme instability; sets priorities and delegates tasks to maintain safety and ECMO circuit integrity.
• Works rotating schedules and maintains regular, reliable, punctual attendance.

Licenses Required

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the interstate compact if switching residency to State of Utah. Must maintain current Interstate Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.
• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Current RQI Healthcare Provider ALS eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The ALS eCredential is to be obtained within 90 days of hire

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intensive work that may exert up to 100 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients while providing medical care. Workers in this position may be exposed to infectious diseases and may be required to function around prisoners and behavioral health patients.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking