What does a perfusionist do?
A perfusionist is a healthcare expert who specializes in operating machinery that helps patients maintain blood flow during cardiac surgeries. As a member of a cardiothoracic surgical team, their duties also include monitoring the patient's vital signs, preparing cardiopulmonary bypass machines, meeting with team members before the surgery to identify the patient's needs, and developing strategies with the surgeons. Moreover, as a perfusionist, it is vital to maintain an active communication line with team members to ensure the surgery's success and the patients' safety.
Perfusionist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real perfusionist resumes:
- Manage floor, ICU and rehab in-patients as well as respond to ER and hospital consultation.
- Manage patients who suffer respiratory/cardiac arrest per ACLS protocol.
- Operate centrifugal ventricular assist devices, intra-aortic balloon pump, and cell saver devices.
- Assist surgical team by passing instruments sutures, sponges, holding retractors and suctioning patient.
- Monitor and assist during general, gyn, plastic, ortho, and peds cases.
- Monitor pet's pulse and oxygen rates during surgical procedures for their safety and post surgery supportive care.
- Perform steroid knee injections, casts, joint aspiration, suturing, stapling, splints, and cast removal.
- experience with telemetry and cardiac meds/was acls certify x8yrs
- Operate heart-lung machine for adult patients, precisely monitoring alter circulatory processes and taking appropriate corrective action when abnormal situations arise.
- Order and read lab tests, x-rays, MRI, ultrasound, and EKG.
- Provide support for liver transplants.
- Perform all triage for animals.
- second assist total knee and hip replacement.
- Assure compliance with HIPAA and OSHA regulations.
- Float to ICU and take care of ICU patient
Perfusionist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 32% of Perfusionists are proficient in Patients, Patient Care, and Heart-Lung Machine. They’re also known for soft skills such as Organizational skills, Emotional stability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Perfusionists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 32%
Operated heart-lung machine for adult patients, precisely monitoring altered circulatory processes and taking appropriate corrective action when abnormal situations arise.
- Patient Care, 12%
Assess, plan, implement the patient care requirements and treatment necessary for cardiopulmonary bypass throughout surgery.
- Heart-Lung Machine, 8%
Operated heart-lung machine to administer drugs and anesthetic agents and control body temperature during surgery.
- ECMO, 8%
Provided 60 hours ECMO support for one pediatric patient and 20 hours ECMO support for one adult Patient.
- Life Support, 4%
Performed professional assessments pertaining to life support & long-term vent dependencies
- Blood Products, 4%
Administered blood products such as packed RBC, platelets, FFP, and salvaged blood during surgery.
Most perfusionists use their skills in "patients," "patient care," and "heart-lung machine" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential perfusionist responsibilities here:
Organizational skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a perfusionist to have is organizational skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "nurses often work with multiple patients who have a variety of health needs." Perfusionists often use organizational skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "created a new organizational flow to maximize efficiency and provide better patient care. "
Emotional stability. Another essential skill to perform perfusionist duties is emotional stability. Perfusionists responsibilities require that "registered nurses need emotional resilience and the ability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors." Perfusionists also use emotional stability in their role according to a real resume snippet: "advocated for patients and family's needs, also provided education and emotional support for patients and their families. "
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of perfusionists is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday perfusionist duties, as "registered nurses must be able to communicate effectively with patients in order to understand their concerns and evaluate their health conditions." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provide individualized family-centered total patient care, education, open communication and safety. "
Compassion. For certain perfusionist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "compassion." The day-to-day duties of a perfusionist rely on this skill, as "registered nurses should be caring and empathetic when working with patients." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what perfusionists do: "provide compassionate care to critical patients suffering from injuries or debilitating conditions. "
Detail oriented. A commonly-found skill in perfusionist job descriptions, "detail oriented" is essential to what perfusionists do. Perfusionist responsibilities rely on this skill because "registered nurses must be precise because they must ensure that patients get the correct treatments and medicines at the right time." You can also see how perfusionist duties rely on detail oriented in this resume example: "ensured a strong attention to detail during examinations and analyses of patients vital signs, lab values, and tests performed. "
The three companies that hire the most perfusionists are:
- Southern Illinois Healthcare66 perfusionists jobs
- SpecialtyCare17 perfusionists jobs
- RWJBarnabas Health15 perfusionists jobs
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Compare different perfusionists
Perfusionist vs. Registered polysomnographic technologist
A critical care nurse is responsible for providing quality care for patients confined in the intensive care unit of a health care facility. Critical care nurses maintain an organized medical chart to report the patient's condition to an attending physician and other medical professionals. They also administer medication, regularly check the patient's vital signs, and assist the doctors in conducting medical procedures and laboratory examinations. A critical care nurse also suggests care plans for the patients, especially during discharge, to ensure total recovery.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between perfusionists and registered polysomnographic technologist. For instance, perfusionist responsibilities require skills such as "heart-lung machine," "ecmo," "life support," and "blood products." Whereas a registered polysomnographic technologist is skilled in "polysomnographic technologist," "cpr," "rpsgt," and "sleep studies." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Registered polysomnographic technologists tend to reach lower levels of education than perfusionists. In fact, registered polysomnographic technologists are 11.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Perfusionist vs. Brain wave technician
The sleep technician is someone who works with a physician to ensure the optimal sleep experience of people. The sleep technician's goal is to assist the physician in diagnosing the type of sleep problem of a patient. The sleep technician will help monitor the patient's vital signs, determine sleep patterns, and help execute all prescriptions and instructions of a physician. The sleep technician also works in various laboratory roles, especially in studies concerning people's sleep patterns and problems.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real perfusionist resumes. While perfusionist responsibilities can utilize skills like "patients," "patient care," "heart-lung machine," and "ecmo," brain wave technicians use skills like "ndt," "nde," "rf," and "troubleshoot."
Brain wave technicians earn lower levels of education than perfusionists in general. They're 7.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Perfusionist vs. Critical care nurse
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a perfusionist is likely to be skilled in "heart-lung machine," "ecmo," "ccp," and "perfusion services," while a typical critical care nurse is skilled in "bls," "acls," "quality care," and "compassion."
Critical care nurses make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $67,729. On the other hand, perfusionists are paid the highest salary in the health care industry, with average annual pay of $133,778.Most critical care nurses achieve a lower degree level compared to perfusionists. For example, they're 5.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Perfusionist vs. Sleep technician
Types of perfusionist
Updated January 8, 2025
