Equipment & Applications Specialist (NOC)

At Houston Methodist, the job title position is responsible for the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Specialist position is a licensed professional Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), or Perfusionist who is an experienced clinician, functions at the Proficient stage of Benner's model of clinical practice and exists to provide skilled operation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation equipment at the bedside in an ICU environment. This position demonstrates compassion and clinical competence when providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures, managing emergencies, and acting as a patient and family advocate in order to monitor and maintain patient rights. The ECMO Specialist position assists in coaching and mentoring department staff in areas of clinical and professional practice.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
~ Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals. Role models and coaches team members in effective communication skills, assisting in their development of such skills. Participates in new employee preceptorships.

~ Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment such as mitigation of conflict. Anticipates the needs of the staff members and proactively offers assistance. Communicates effectively with physicians and nurses regarding the status of the ECMO circuit and the response of the patient.

~ Contributes to improving nurse satisfaction by serving as a role model and mentor, facilitating teamwork with RNs, non-licensed and interprofessional staff, as evidenced by the annual RN-RN teamwork score and interprofessional relationship score. Initiates contributions towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e., peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
~ Leads the patient and family-centered care standards, as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Practices in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles. Mentors others regarding specialty populations.

~ Operates ECMO equipment at the bedside in an ICU environment. Monitors the equipment and the patient to detect any problems.

~ Develops and implements effective patient teaching strategies based on learning needs; uses appropriate resources, incorporating planning for care after discharge. Consistently evaluates the patient's comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly. Serves as a leader (including education, mentoring, and resource) for patient, families and interprofessional health care team. Strives to exceed patients and coworkers' expectations.

~ Drives department activities to improve department score for patient satisfaction on unit-based scorecard, through peer-to-peer accountability.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
~ Models the standards of care related to the nursing process, as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Provides care as the staff leader to patients on ECMO therapy and leads the interprofessional health care team in implementing plan of care. Collaborates with interprofessional health care team to achieve patient goals, including mobility, patient weaning, etc. Anticipates/prevents and recognize/resolves early declines in patient condition and emergent situations. Manages assignment of complex patients and other unit demands. Proactively recognizes, determines a plan of action, and responds to situations, such as emergency codes.

~ Models the standards related to regulatory requirements and professional practice as outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Role models highly developed assessment, clinical documentation, leadership, and analytical skills; integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols and leads improvements in patient safety-related processes at unit or service line level. Serves as a patient advocate by identifying and reporting unsafe or malfunctioning equipment and unsafe operational practices to department leadership. Contributes to development of service line and hospital standards and guidelines.

~ Ensures proper Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) patient level data for submission to ELSO database. Analyzes assessment data and audits plan of care in determining patient needs and outcomes. Completes all documentation as required to meet clinical standards and any research protocols or registry requirements. Supports ECMO CMPI team with various PI initiatives.

~ Ensures safe blood flow, blended gases and overall technical safety of the patient receiving ECMO therapy. Supports technical components of ECMO patient circuitry, including intra-circuit management- infusions, CRRT, plasmapheresis, blood sampling and related therapy. Monitors and reports anticoagulation levels as ordered. Relays data to ordering provider and ensures care is delivered as ordered.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
~ Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime, and other areas according to departmental specifications.

~ Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Actively participates in the stewardship and efficient utilization of resources and needs including unit capital and operational budgets. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
~ Leads and identifies opportunities for practice changes, innovative solutions to improve patient care and performance improvement. Investigates and incorporates evidence-based practices which are presented to shared governance and leadership. Supports change initiatives and adapts to unexpected changes.

~ Serves as the clinical resource. Develops and disseminates, as appropriate, informational/educational resources and programs designed to improve quality and professional practice. Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. EDUCATION
Must have one of the following:
◊ Registered Nurse (RN) -Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from an accredited education program or
◊ Respiratory Therapist (RT) - Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section or
◊ Perfusionist - Bachelor's Degree and Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certification, Licenses and Registrations section
WORK EXPERIENCE
~ Three years' experience with direct ECMO patient care

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED
RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure within 60 days OR
RN-Temp - Registered Nurse - Temporary State Licensure within 60 days OR
RRT - Registered Respiratory Therapist (NBRC) -- If Respiratory Therapist OR
PFSN - Perfusionists - State Licensure -- If Perfusionist, must also have CCP OR
CCP - Certified Cardiovascular Perfusionist (ABCP) -- If Perfusionist, must also have PFSN within 1 year AND
BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) -- For all roles AND
ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (AHA) -- For all roles
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
~ Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

~ Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

~ Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

~ Demonstrates proficient time management skills

~ Must be able to perform skills and competencies as defined in orientation checklist and annual departmental competency checklist

~ Completion of Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) training or equivalent

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
Uniform No
Scrubs Yes
Business professional No
Other (department approved) No
ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
~ On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**
May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist Hospital is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Texas and one of America’s “Best Hospitals.” As a full-service, acute-care hospital located in the Texas Medical Center and the flagship hospital of Houston Methodist, it has evolved into one of the nation’s largest nonprofit teaching hospitals and a leader in innovative medical research with a comprehensive residency program. Two of Houston Methodist’s primary academic affiliates are among the nation’s leading health care organizations: Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Houston Methodist also has affiliations with Texas A&M University and the University of Houston. With 948 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and more than 8,400 employees, Houston Methodist Hospital offers unparalleled care for thousands of patients from around the world.
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor – priority referral Protected Veterans requested.