Clinical perfusion scientist
Also known as: clinical perfusionist, clinical perfusion techinician, medical perfusion scientist, medical perfusion techinician, clinical perfusion expert, medical perfusion expert
About this occupation
Clinical perfusion scientists operate heart-lung equipment during surgical operations to ensure breathing and blood circulation. They work as part of the surgical team, connect patients to the heart-lung machines in preparation for surgery, monitor their condition during surgery, report to the team on the patients' status and determine the necessary techniques according to their needs.
Essential skills and knowledge
- contribute to continuity of health care
- resuscitation
- human anatomy
- comply with legislation related to health care
- ensure safety of healthcare users
- apply health sciences
- apply context specific clinical competences
- hygiene in a health care setting
- operate breathing equipment
- clinical perfusion
- health care legislation
- medical terminology
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Anesthesiologist Assistants (O*NET 29-1071.01). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Provide airway management interventions including tracheal intubation, fiber optics, or ventilary support.
- Assist anesthesiologists in monitoring of patients, including electrocardiogram (EKG), direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure, arterial blood gas, hematocrit, or routine measurement of temperature, respiration, blood pressure or heart rate.
- Control anesthesia levels during procedures.
- Administer anesthetic, adjuvant, or accessory drugs under the direction of an anesthesiologist.
- Pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems and monitors.
- Respond to emergency situations by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), or pediatric advanced life support (PALS).
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Social, Investigative
Top skills: Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Active Learning, Critical Thinking
US median pay: US$135,880 a year (2025), 162,150 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyVery important (4.4)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (4.0)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryVery important (3.9)
- PhysicsO*NET: PhysicsVery important (3.9)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Anesthesiologists
- Pediatric Surgeons
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Cardiologists
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- Critical Care Nurses
- Physician Assistants
- Nurse Practitioners
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.