New Information on How to Become a Perfusionist - TheJobNetwork

New Information on How to Become a Perfusionist - TheJobNetworkIf youre at a feier and telling someone what you do for a living, saying Im a perfusionist might lead to some interesting conversations. A percussionist? Like in a band? A perfectionist? But while not everyone may know what a perfusionist does exactly, rest assured that this is an essential role in the healthcare world. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832388529-0) ) What Perfusionists DoIf youre not familiar with the career path (yet), heres the elevator pitch perfusionists operate a heart-lung machine during surgery, keeping oxygenated blood flowing through the patients heart and body while the surgeon operates, and monitoring to make sure the patient maintains a consistent body temperature. It doesnt get much mora intense or life-saving than thatthis is not a career for the weak of heart. Perfusionists are highly trained clinical professionals who assist surgeons and physicians in cardiov ascular surgery, but also any surgery that requires cardiopulmonary bypass to maintain the patients vital signs during the procedure (including correction of heart defects, chemotherapy treatments, and emergency trauma cases).If youre looking for a healthcare career that calls for a steady hand and nerves of steel, and youre willing to commit to the education and training necessary to be one of behauptung highly specialized professionals, it could be a great career choice for you.The BenefitsIts lucrative. Perfusionists are a high-paid bunch the median salary for these professionals is $109,773.Its stable. Perfusionists are a mainstay in the clinical healthcare worldone of the strongest (and continuing to grow) fields around right now, due to an aging population facing widespread cardiovascular issues and diseases. Because of the specialized training and education perfusionists need to have, this is not a field where people come and go frequently.It doesnt require an advanced degree . To become a perfusionist, you need to have a bachelors degree, but can complete a training program/certificate rather than a getting a masters. However, you can go on to get those advanced degrees in perfusion and cardiovascular studies after working in the field, if you want to develop your expertise.Its a cutting-edge field. With technical advances improving surgical equipment all the time (including the heart-lung machines used to maintain patient stability during open-heart surgery), this is a field where the tech-minded can work with the most modern technology. Perfusionists can also go on to the equipment development field, refining and implementing new technologies to improve heart surgery and patient care.The Qualifications Youll NeedAs a perfusionist, you should expect to meet these requirementsA bachelors degree in a medical or science field (such as chemistry, biology, medical technology, etc.)Completion of a perfusionist certificate or masters degree, which includes cl inical trainingStrong anatomical knowledgeFamiliarity with surgical technologyIn addition, perfusionists have a very specific set of skillsExtremely detail-orientedStrong organizational skillsAbility to remain calm in emergency situations and throughout long surgeriesFamiliarity with the related perfusion/surgical equipment and the ability to troubleshoot as necessaryHow to Make Your DecisionIf you have the skills to become a perfusionist, you should think about whether this is the career path for you.Are you willing to work a 40-hour week, plus night/weekend/holiday shifts as necessary to accommodate being on call for surgery?Do you have the attention to detail that is required to maintain a persons basic life functions while theyre in surgery?Do you handle crisis situations well?If you dont have the level of undergrad science experience or advanced study in perfusion under your belt, are you willing to commit to a certificate or degree program?Are you mechanically inclined and abl e to work with sophisticated medical equipment with the right training?Are you willing to do ongoing training for recertification and staying on top of current medical technology trends?If the gut check says no on any of these, then perhaps a different healthcare path would be better. But if youre willing to embrace what can be a high-pressure, fast-moving medical career, then it might be the right option for you.The Final OutlookIf the job meets your requirements and you meet the jobs requirements, this is a solid choice to make for the future. Because perfusionists are becoming more involved with procedures outside of the traditional heart surgery (like fixing congenital heart defects, treating heart disease, and chemotherapy). Its also a career path that has great potential for perfusionists who eventually want to move out of the operating room. Trained perfusionists can become educators, equipment developers for private medical companies, or even medical equipment sales represen tatives. Its a career path with a lot of different options for those willing to commit.