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ECMO Specialist - RN - Cardiac ECMO Full-time Rotating

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

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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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

Tell me about an eCPR or shock call you responded to. What was your role?

What they are checking: Whether they can work under extreme time pressure during cannulation.

Tell me about a time you taught a skill to another nurse or new ECMO staff.

What they are checking: Whether they can help train staff and build the program, which the role calls for.

What would you do

You see clots forming in the oxygenator and pressures across it are rising. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they recognize oxygenator failure and know when a circuit change is needed.

About the work

Explain the physiology difference between VV and VA ECMO, and when each is the right choice.

What they are checking: Whether they truly understand ECMO physiology, which the posting says they must confidently differentiate.

Walk me through priming an ECMO circuit on your own.

What they are checking: Whether they can independently set up a circuit, which is required for this role.

Your VA ECMO patient has falling flows and the circuit is chattering. What do you think and what do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can troubleshoot common circuit problems like low volume or cannula issues quickly.

How do you prepare for and manage an intra-hospital or inter-hospital transport of an ECMO patient?

What they are checking: Whether they plan transports carefully, since circuit problems in transit can be fatal.

What's in your shift audit of an unused circuit and equipment?

What they are checking: Whether they treat readiness checks seriously so circuits can be deployed without delay.

How do you manage anticoagulation on ECMO and watch for bleeding?

What they are checking: Whether they balance clotting and bleeding risk, a constant challenge on ECMO.

How do the ELSO guidelines shape how you practice?

What they are checking: Whether they know the standards the program uses for training and quality review.

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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 All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. 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. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: 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 as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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