ECMO Specialist

Who you'd be caring for

Patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, VA and VV, in cardiac and medical ICU settings.

What the shift actually looks like

One-to-one during initiation and instability — circuit monitoring, anticoagulation, troubleshooting and constant vigilance. The most technically demanding respiratory role there is.

What you need to hold

Typically required

RRT plus ECMO specialist training; ELSO-aligned program experience

Typical assignment

1:1 during initiation and instability

What to ask before you accept

VA versus VV, which pump and circuit, whether perfusion shares management, and how many cases run per year.

We put those questions to the facility at intake so you get a straight answer before you commit, not after your first shift.

Why this role is in demand

A very small national pool. ECMO-trained therapists should be booked months ahead, not sourced reactively. For you, that is leverage — the narrower the skill set, the smaller the pool you are competing against and the better the assignments you get offered.

Travel, per diem or permanent?

Travel and local contract suit respiratory well because winter volume is predictable and contracts booked ahead pay better than scrambles in January. Per diem works if you want control over your calendar. Permanent if you want to build depth in one department.

Working with us

We tell you the rate, the unit and the shift pattern before you commit, and we ask permission before every single submittal — you will never find out you were put forward somewhere after the fact. One recruiter handles you from the first call through to your last shift.

Placement is always free to you. Our fee is paid by the facility. Join the network and we will only call you when something genuinely fits.