Respiratory Therapist/ECMO Specialist

Nemours is seeking a Cardiac Center Respiratory Therapist/ECMO Specialist to join our Nemours Children’s Health team in Orlando, FL. Role Overview The Cardiac Center Respiratory Therapist/ECMO Specialist serves in a dual-function role. The therapist provides all routine and emergency respiratory care in all patients admitted to the Comprehensive Cardiac Care Unit under the direction of the Cardiac Critical Care attending physician, provides clinical direction for respiratory-care trainees, consults and educates other health-care professionals, and is in routine contact with patients during hands‑on care and with patients’ families. The therapist may work in other areas of the hospital based on patient census and acuity. They ensure appropriate patient care through continuous monitoring and assessment of the patient, ECMO circuit and related technology. They identify and correct problems associated with ECMO processes and initiate and evaluate interventions consistent with protocol, consulting the ECMO physician when needed. As a member of the ECMO team, the therapist collaborates closely with other team members and health‑care providers to provide care in accordance with the patient’s individualized plan. This position requires flexibility with schedule changes, shifts scheduled and number of hours due to the emergency nature of ECMO and the inability to predict timing and volumes. Respiratory Therapist Essential Functions Provide all functions of mechanical ventilation including high frequency, critical care, and home-care equipment Provide all functions of airway clearance and respiratory medication administration Provide advanced medical gas delivery with appropriate equipment (Nitric Oxide, Helium-Oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, diagnostic gases such as 5% carbon dioxide) Perform intra-hospital transport of critically ill patients, including those with artificial airways Perform point-of-care blood testing, including arterial blood gas testing and clotting time Contribute to multidisciplinary care rounding with the care team ECMO Specialist Essential Functions Maintain ECMO competencies with annual training and simulation and ongoing education reflecting best-practice changes Monitor and adjust ECMO circuit settings (heat-exchanger temperature, pump flow, sweep gas) to maintain parameters established by the ECMO physician Recommend administration of blood products, fluids, and/or medications as warranted by ECMO status Assess cardiopulmonary status through test results (ABGs, CBC, etc.) and physical assessment findings Perform patient assessment to anticipate and prevent potential problems (variances in blood pressure, perfusion, ventilation, heart rate) Monitor and manage intake and output records to ensure appropriate fluid levels Monitor coagulation results, adjust heparin infusion per ECMO heparin protocol Evaluate chest X-rays for endotracheal tube placement, cannula position, and lung-field status to determine patient status and weaning guidelines; support and maintain cannula patency while the patient is undergoing ECMO in collaboration with the ECMO physician Support ECMO team research through collection of ECMO-related data, preparation, and presentation of research abstracts or other documentation Demonstrate expertise in neonatal, and/or pediatric care including patient assessment, technical skills, and psychosocial aspects of care Actively participate in evaluation of new equipment, effectively identifying and troubleshooting equipment problems Quality Provide a clear and concise end-of-shift report for the incoming Respiratory Therapist/ECMO Specialist Participate in interdisciplinary case reviews and in-service sessions to share information and determine appropriateness of patient-care plans Problem-solve through critical evaluation of clinical and databased information and continuous improvement efforts that lead to effective quality-based outcomes Provide family/parental education and reinforce medical counseling initiated by the physician care team Utilize Epic to document flow sheets and other clinical information to ensure accurate information is available to the care team Qualifications Graduate of a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited school for respiratory care (required) Associate’s degree required; Baccalaureate degree preferred Holds the "Certified Respiratory Therapist" or the "Registered Respiratory Therapist" credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), or an equivalent credential acceptable to the Board Or holds certification, or the equivalent, to deliver respiratory care in another state, with such certification granted pursuant to requirements determined to be equivalent to, or more stringent than, the requirements in Florida Clear and active Florida license American Heart Association: Basic Life Support (BLS) required; PALS and ACLS required within the first six months One to three years of experience (required) About Nemours Children’s Health Nemours Children’s Health is an internationally recognized pediatric health system serving more than 1.7 million patient encounters each year. We deliver care across six states through two freestanding children’s hospitals - Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware and Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida - along with a network of more than 80 primary, urgent, and specialty-care practices and more than 40 hospital partnerships. Backed by the Nemours Foundation and Alfred I. duPont Trust, our $1.7B nonprofit system is dedicated to improving children’s health through clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention. Our Whole Child Health approach focuses equally on prevention and treatment, partnering with communities to help every child thrive. Inclusion and belonging guide our strategy and growth. We are committed to culturally relevant care, reducing health disparities, and fostering an environment where every associate, patient, and family feels supported and valued. Learn more at Nemours.org. #J-18808-Ljbffr Nemours Children's Health