How Do You Become A Cardio-Pulmonary Perfusionist?
Perfusion technologists set up and operate the heart-lung machine and other sophisticated equipment used in the operating room. In addition, perfusionists, directed by the surgeon and anesthesiologist, are responsible for regulating the patient’s levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide; for measuring selected laboratory values such as blood cell count; and for monitoring circulation. At times, perfusionists administer anesthetic or other pharmaceutical agents through the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. Step 1 Obtain an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. In order to apply to cardio-pulmonary perfusionist training programs you must have a four-year undergraduate degree. Step 2 Take the prerequisite courses. Most programs require 2 semesters of chemistry, 2 semesters of biology, anatomy, physics, algebra and statistics. These classes must be taken prior to enrolling in a cardio-pulmonary perfusionist training program. Step 3 Apply to a training program. Most medica
