Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a recently qualified & accredited Clinical Perfusionist to join the Perfusion team at the Sussex Cardiac Centre.
* Liaise with senior perfusion staff on a daily basis for the purpose of daily responsibilities.
* Monitor and evaluate the delivery of service within the team and report back to senior staff.
* Directly supervise trainee clinical perfusionists.
* Respond in a flexible way to the demands of the environment, including unpredictable workload, emergency procedures, deadlines and multi-area working.
* Independently manage and prioritise personal workload using effective time management skills.
* Applicants must hold current accreditation with SCPS & current registration with CCPS. Applications that do not meet these criteria will not be considered.
Main duties of the job
As a qualified/accredited autonomous practitioner to provide clinical perfusion services, involving the management and control of the extracorporeal circuit which temporarily replaces the patient's heart and lungs during cardiac surgery, management of circulatory support devices (such as the intra-aortic balloon pump & CardioHelp ECLS device), management of blood conservation equipment (such as the cell saver), to work as a vital member of a multidisciplinary team during both routine and emergency cardiac surgical procedures, and to fully participate in the provision of a 24 hour on-call service.
Job responsibilities
* Review patient notes for relevant medical history, pathology and diagnosis making appropriate clinical decisions regarding the conduct of extracorporeal support, including perfusion technique, cannulation, type of equipment, intravenous fluid, blood products and drug additions to prime, for both routine and emergency cardiac surgical procedures.
* Assemble, prime, de-air and manage extracorporeal devices and circuitry for cardiac surgical procedures, thus maintaining life support, according to departmental perfusion procedures and protocols.
* Assess, interpret and manage a wide range of highly complex and routinely conflicting clinical information on a continual basis and take appropriate autonomous action, e.g. systemic blood pressure and flow, extracorporeal circuit pressure(s), central venous pressure, anticoagulation, ECG, fluid balance and patient/blood/cardioplegia/thermocirculator water temperatures.
* Assess, interpret and take appropriate autonomous action to provide adequate gas exchange and maintain homeostasis whilst on cardiopulmonary bypass.
* Work as an independent practitioner, taking responsibility for managing a number of techniques during a single procedure.
* Perform a range of complex myocardial preservation techniques to protect the heart from the damaging effects of ischaemia.
* Be conversant with complex procedures and specialised perfusion techniques as deemed necessary for individual patient requirements.
* Assist with the setting up, initiation and management of complex long term extracorporeal circulation techniques.
* Seek advice from senior colleagues in order to gain experience and knowledge.
* Integrate information from auditory, visual and perceptive senses on a constant basis and use this to manage the cardiopulmonary bypass procedure.
* Administer drugs and fluids according to departmental protocol and as necessitated by the clinical situation.
* Transfuse allogeneic (donor) red blood cells during CPB guided by departmental policy.
* Act and think clearly and calmly under acute time pressures and in emergency situations.
* Apply specialist clinical skills and knowledge to support, advise and supervise trainee Clinical Perfusionists during routine procedures/techniques.
* Provide CPB and cardiac support services in other clinical areas external to the operating theatre complex.
* Prepare equipment and disposable items to perform autologous cell salvage both intra- and post-operatively.
* Prepare and operate the equipment necessary for the insertion of intra-aortic balloon catheters pre-, intra- or post-operatively.
* Prepare and operate the equipment and disposables to perform carbon dioxide flooding of the operative field during valve repair/replacement surgery or any other open procedure.
* Maintain sensitivity and the dignity of patients in emergency situations and in the event of a patient death during a procedure.
* Perform daily maintenance, quality control and troubleshooting of the departmental blood-gas analyser.
* To be part of the team providing a highly skilled, reliable 24 hour on call cover for cardiac surgery and other associated areas.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Accreditation with SCPS
* Registration with CCPS
* MSc Clinical Perfusion Sciences
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
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