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This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Sep 29, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

ECMO Specialist - RN - Cardiac ECMO Full-time Rotating

Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 28, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

How would you help train and assess other staff against ELSO guidelines?

What they are checking: The posting names assisting in staff training and competencies aligned with ELSO guidelines.

Full time on a rotating schedule in Chicago. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: The posting states the rotation and the site.

What would you do

Tell me about your part in a cannulation or an eCPR call.

What they are checking: The posting names assisting with cannulation and responding to eCPR, SHOCK and lung rescue calls.

How do you manage an inter-hospital transport of a patient on ECMO?

What they are checking: The posting names independent intra and inter hospital transport.

How do you talk to a family about what ECMO can and cannot do?

What they are checking: The hardest conversation around ECMO, and false hope does harm.

About the work

Tell me about your ECMO experience.

What they are checking: The posting is an ECMO specialist role requiring an experienced registered nurse.

Walk me through priming and setting up a circuit on your own.

What they are checking: The posting names being able to set up and prime ECMO circuits independently.

What is the difference between venovenous and venoarterial ECMO, and when does each apply?

What they are checking: The posting names confidently differentiating physiology for VV and VA indications.

The circuit pressures change suddenly. Walk me through your troubleshooting.

What they are checking: The posting names continually assessing the circuit and troubleshooting difficulties.

What would you do if you suspected a clot or air in the circuit?

What they are checking: The two circuit emergencies that kill fastest, and the response has to be immediate.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Medicine from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The ECMO Specialist - RN reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. • An experienced Registered Nurse, who in addition to providing direct patient care, is accountable for facilitating an interdisciplinary approach to patient care, patient flow, staffing, resource utilization, and problem solving on a given shift. Responsibilities: • Monitors, operates, and adjusts ECMO circuits and the components to maintain patient specific parameters • Continually assess and evaluate ECMO circuit and troubleshoot any difficulties • Assist team members with cannulation and responds to eCPR, SHOCK, and lung rescue calls • Able to set up and prime ECMO circuits independently • Completed shift audit of not in use circuits and equipment to ensure seamless deployment • Competent in troubleshooting skills within circuit • Independent intra/inter hospital transport as part of interdisciplinary • Confidently differentiate physiology for VV and VA ECMO indications • Partner with ECMO Coordinators and Physician Leadership to advance the ECMO program within and across NM system • Assist in staff training and competencies and quality and outcome review to ensure alignment with the ELSO guidelines • Adheres to established system policies and procedures related to ECMO management • Acts as a resource to the interdisciplinary team for safe management of ECMO circuit • Establish connection for CRRT to the ECMO Circuit • Maintain scheduled pre and post oxygenator gases and necessary laboratory monitoring • Complete required shift documentation regarding patients progress • Completes necessary billing documents and data capture for database management and improvement of quality outcome measurement • Maintains and completes necessary bi-annual competencies and trainings per ELSO guidelines Required: • Bachelor’s degree in nursing • Graduate from an accredited school of nursing required • Registered Professional Nurse licensure in the State of Illinois required • BLS – American Heart Association • ACLS – American Heart Association Preferred: • 2 years of CTICU experience • CCRN for nursing Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more. Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.