RN ECMO Primer

The estimate displayed represents the typical wage range of candidates hired. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, how many years of experience you have and comparison to other employees already in this role. The typical candidate is hired below midpoint of the range.

Do you have the career opportunities as a(an) RN ECMO Primer you want with your current employer? We have an exciting opportunity for you to join HCA HealthONE Aurora which is part of the nation's leading provider of healthcare services, HCA Healthcare.

Job Summary and Qualifications

The Registered Nurse (RN) ECMO Specialist Primer coordinates and delivers high quality, patient-centered care in accordance with the nature and specific requirements of the department, and consistent with the scope and standards of practice for the relevant state and specialty. The RN Primer serves as an advocate for patients/families/caregivers and models a commitment to the organization’s vision/mission/values to support an unparalleled patient experience. In addition, this RN performs Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy to support patients with severely impaired heart/lung function. 

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Primer – REGISTERED NURSE

The ECMO Primer, RN must have equivalent qualifications, competence and function in the same role as employed individuals performing the same 

Major Responsibilities: 

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Assesses patient condition during admission and during each shift as scheduled and/or as needed, identifying and reporting any changes in patient status.

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Performs procedures, monitoring, or other functions as ordered by the medical provider(s). Documents the administration of care in the patient medical record in a timely and thorough manner.

Manages and Maintains cannulation cart supply and readiness 

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Performs the administration of prescribed medications. Monitors patient for therapeutic response. Notifies provider and intervenes as appropriate in the event of an unintended response to medication.

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Teaches patients/families/caregivers about patient medical condition, patient status, treatment plan, medications and possible side effects, and follow-up measures. Translates complex medical terminology to ensure complete understanding.

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Manages the continuation of care by serving as the interface between healthcare providers and community support systems who coordinate ongoing care needs for specialized patient groups.

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Participates as an engaged, active member of the health care team and positively promotes the rest of the team to patients/families/caregivers and other colleagues.

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Demonstrates caring and empathy in all interactions and advocates for patient- and family-centered approach in all decisions and actions.

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Performs other duties as assigned. 

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Practices and adheres to the “Code of Conduct” and “Mission and Value Statement.”

Manages and Maintains cannulation cart supply and readiness 

Specialty-Specific Responsibilities 

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Cites indications, contraindications, risks, and benefits for venoarterial and venovenous ECMO support.

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Prepares and operates clinical equipment and circuitry per ECMO policies/procedures. Maintains and effectively assesses ECMO circuit function.

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Performs all circulatory technical skills with efficiency, accuracy and safety while anticipating, troubleshooting, intervening, and managing crises/emergency situations according to policy and procedure.

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Works in conjunction with the bedside nurse to manage cardiac drugs to ensure that the patient is hemodynamically stable.

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Evaluates the effectiveness of treatment and recommends revisions to the multidisciplinary care team.

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Recognizes hypotension/hypovolemia, hypertension, and cardiac arrest during ECMO support and intervenes promptly.

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Directs transport personnel during ECMO transport to ensure patient and caregiver safety.

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Monitors pump/gas flow ECMO weaning techniques, managing anticoagulation, and ventilatory changes during weaning, low-flow scenarios, and trials.

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Assists patients and family members with understanding ECMO support and related care. 

Independently performs advanced ECMO skills including but not limited to circuit assembly, circuit priming, wire assistance, initiation and cessation of ECMO support, pending additional training and demonstration of competency 

Independently performs out-of-hospital patient ground and air transport, pending additional training and demonstration of competency 

Maintains above competencies through quarterly skills assessment, or as required by ECMO coordinator and ICU manager 

Builds, Preps, and primes ECMO circuits. Maintains equipment in good working order and demonstrates effective infection control practices related to equipment operation. 

ECMO initiation, maintaining sterile field and assisting physician when initiating ECMO 

ECMO decannulation 

ECMO Procedures including: bilateral site cannulation to dual lumen cannulation; transition to hybrid ECMO configuration; implant dual lumen cannula; circuit changes, adding pigtails, and adding pressure lines; in-house transports; assisting physical and occupational therapies 

ECMO circuit advanced troubleshooting and emergencies, including monitoring, thrombosis, function, equipment failure, air, and accidental decannulation 

Instruct and mentor the ECMO Specialists 

Complete 3 clear primes quarterly in wet labs or clinical scenarios 

Participate in at least one prime/ECMO initiation or circuit change 

Must work at least two 12-hour ECMO Specialist shifts in a six-month period 

• Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing or RN Diploma Required

• 1+ years clinical experience in Critical Care Required 

• 2+ years clinical experience in Critical Care Preferred 

 BLS required

ACLS required

CCRN required

CES-A preferred

HCA HealthONE Aurora, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:

• Comprehensive benefits for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health and telemedicine services
• Wellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services
• Time away from work programs for paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence
• Savings and retirement resources , including a 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, flexible spending accounts, preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support and financial wellbeing counseling
• Education support through tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing
• Additional benefits for fertility and family building, adoption assistance, life insurance, supplemental health protection plans, auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection and consumer discounts

Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.

HCA HealthONE, one of the largest and most comprehensive healthcare systems in the Rocky Mountain region, offers more than 170 care sites in the Denver metro area. Offering services across the continuum of care to meet patients’ total healthcare needs, HCA HealthONE includes seven acute care hospitals, a dedicated flagship pediatric hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, CareNow® urgent care clinics, mental health campuses, imaging and surgery centers, physician practices, home and hospice care, and AirLife Denver, which provides regional critical care air and ground transportation. Among HCA HealthONE’s acute care hospitals in Aurora, offering more than 60 medical specialties, including a Level II Trauma Center with Primary Stroke Certification and Chest Pain Center accreditation and a full-service mental health campus. HCA HealthONE Aurora is the first hospital in the Denver metro area to receive a three-time Magnet designation for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Consistently among the Denver Business Journals’ list of top corporate philanthropists in the Denver-metro area, HCA HealthONE was named as one of the most community-minded organizations by The Civic 50 and contributed more than $1 million through cash and in-kind donations last year alone, along with more than $400M in federal, state and local taxes.

HCA Healthcare has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute more than ten times. In recent years, HCA Healthcare spent an estimated $3.7 billion in costs for the delivery of charitable care, uninsured discounts, and other uncompensated expenses.

If you are looking for an opportunity that provides satisfaction and personal growth, we encourage you to apply for our RN ECMO Primer opening. We promptly review all applications. Highly qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews. Unlock the possibilities and apply today!

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.