Cardiac Perfusionist Job Description, Career as a Cardiac Perfusionist, Salary, Employment

Education and Training: College degree plus specialized training

Salary: Median—$96,144 per year

Employment Outlook: Excellent

Definition and Nature of the Work

Cardiac perfusionists set up and operate heart-lung machines, which take over the functions of a patient's heart and lungs during heart surgery. The word "perfusion" means to pump a liquid into an organ or tissue, usually via blood vessels. In this case, the liquid is blood with the heart-lung machine doing the pumping.

As part of their jobs, cardiac perfusionists must review patients' medical history and current status, and set up and test the heart-lung machine and related equipment. Perfusionists operate the machine to regulate blood circulation and composition, control body temperature, and administer any necessary drugs. They also communicate to the rest of the operating room team how the patient is doing.

Education and Training Requirements

To obtain employment, a cardiac perfusionist must have a Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP) credential from the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion. To obtain this credential, an applicant must have graduated from an accredited training program in cardiovascular perfusion by the time of the examination. He or she must also have performed at least seventy-five clinical perfusions during training and have received a letter of satisfactory clinical competency from their school. Certified perfusionists must recertify each year by meeting requirements for clinical activity and continuing education.

Requirements for entrance to a perfusionist training program is a bachelor's degree in science or nursing, or a certain number of undergraduate credits. In some colleges and universities, the program leads to a bachelor's degree. Other colleges and universities offer a graduate program leading to certification and possibly to a master's degree. Programs are not available in every state, admit only a few students, and are rigorous.

Cardiac perfusionists operate heart-lung machines to regulate blood circulation and composition during heart surgery. (© Owen Franken/Corbis.)

Getting the Job

In June 2005 there were only four thousand perfusionists employed throughout the United States. The school at which you receive your training may be able to help you obtain employment. You can also apply directly to hospitals, finding information about openings from newspapers and the Internet.

Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook

A perfusionist may advance to chief perfusionist with three to five years of experience. A chief perfusionist is an administrator who supervises other perfusionists and is responsible for budgeting.

Employment opportunities for perfusionists are excellent due to the high level of heart disease in the United States. As the population ages, perfusionists will be needed in increasing numbers. Further advancements in the technology used in cardiac surgery are also expected to increase career opportunities for cardiac perfusionists.

Working Conditions

Perfusionists work in well-lighted, sterile environments in hospital operating rooms. They may stand for six to eight hours per day and may have to lift machinery. The operating room environment can be stressful. Perfusionists work with physicians, nurses, and other operating room personnel.

Earnings and Benefits

In 2006 the salary range for most perfusionists was $87,569 to $105,609 per year. The median salary was $96,144. Perfusionists generally received health care, disability insurance, vacations, and retirement plans.