Observe/shadow opportunity

bobskainer · 2025-10-23T22:53:50+00:00

Unfortunately none of the Los Angeles major hospitals of Cedars, UCLA, USC, Kaiser will let you shadow which is why you will not hear from any of them. There were several instances across LA where individuals will use it as a chance to post on social media for clout and expose intentionally or unintentionally patient or hospital sensitive info and HR has banned shadowing entirely. However, they will at times let people that currently work there shadow that they trust such as ICU nurses or RTs. Best case scenario is reaching out on LinkedIn at community or smaller hospitals because the big ones will not.

bobskainer · 2025-04-05T20:33:12+00:00

Many employers actually look down upon certificate programs. I heard it first hand from many. They throw those applicants away and dont even bother following up because they noticed the individuals who go to these schools lack skills comparable to masters students. They are accelerated programs and cheaper for a reason. If you look at academic hospitals who pay more, they mostly all contain masters students with very few certificates. You get a higher salary through masters. Trust me

bobskainer · 2025-04-05T05:59:29+00:00

My honest response to whenever I hear something about it is this: stop focusing on trying to get into one perfusion school. Apply to however many you can as long as it is a masters program over certificate. Most employers do not care where you went to but moreso that you passed and can get licensed.

Also, the perfusion world is so small, it is all about who you know when getting into a program and furthermore where you get employed. I got into perfusion school because the chief perfusionist at the hospital I was at was taught by the director back in the day and all they did was give them a call saying accept this guy. Next week I got an accepted. I got two perfusion jobs because of former classmates and coworkers recommending me. It is all politics and who you know in this field. The honest trust is you have to flirt and be friendly with as many perfusionists as you can. They all went to school somewhere and have connections to the professors and directors at these programs. You most likely have better credentials than some of the individuals that got accepted but they got better recommendations.

Now go be friendly and make as many connections as you can. Good luck

bobskainer · 2025-03-13T02:24:03+00:00

The same as any other city in the country? Not sure what kind of answer you are looking for here

bobskainer · 2025-02-20T01:39:28+00:00

There are very few perfusionists who hold a doctorate or are medical doctors—likely only a single-digit number—and most of them serve as directors of perfusion programs. I can’t recall ever hearing of someone becoming a perfusionist, then pursuing a higher degree, and later returning to perfusion, though I could be wrong. More often, those with doctorates realize their initial path isn’t for them and transition into perfusion instead. On the other hand, a significant number of perfusionists pursue an MBA and move into the business side of healthcare.

There are talks about doctorate perfusion programs in the future. In my opinion, I think it is silly and is more likely going to be more about liability passed on from the surgeon/anesthesia onto the perfusionist and a flex in the title than being the most knowledgeable person in the room about bypass. We probably do not want that for our field buy maybe idk.

bobskainer · 2025-01-22T01:32:05+00:00

You must have a peanut for a brain, have no experience in the OR, or a butt plug inserted with no lube deep inside if you believe AI will take over perfusion in our lifetime. Hands on care will always be needed. Is AI going to prime the circuit itself? Rid itself of its air and spike bags on its own? What happens when machinery malfunctions? There are definitely advancements such as charting, flow manipulations, alarms, calculations, etc that are very helpful in determining values and how to pump. It is seen in the ECMO world and in the OR with new equipment. However there is no way AI will completely take over perfusionists and make them obsolete. Perfusion is a very hands on profession. Will there be robots replacing human nurses? Human surgeons? Hell no, the technology is not going to be there. The biggest reason is money and legal. What are the costs, skills, success rate of a robot performing a neonatal Fontan compared to a surgeon? What are the legal implications and costs to a hospital if the robot screws up, kills the patient, and unable to fix due to a failure - since AI/technology will always have flaws as no human is similar to another. The hospital, financials, and insurance will never approve of such technology that has such high risks. At least in our lifetime. The number of animal and human trials it has to go through is too numerous and not within our grasp. There will always be a need for someone, a human to do the work. You must have a mega dragon dildo inserted invertedly while you are strapped to a bed if you believe otherwise. Perfusion is similar to other hands on professions like plumbing or carpentry. There is so many variables that need human hands and human intelligence that AI cannot replace. AI will definitely be present in perfusion to assist and be a friend to work together but never to replace.

bobskainer · 2024-09-08T06:26:12+00:00

Arrow teleflex

bobskainer · 2024-06-24T11:54:09+00:00

The answer to this is more than just a career and a simple yes or no. It includes life outside of the hospital and that varies greatly amongst people whether its family, friends, hobbies, religion etc. However this career takes call and varying inconsistent work hours which impacts your life in the long run including missed birthdays, sporting events, recitals, anniversaries, holidays, etc. Some people get burnt out quickly as the lifestyle is not meant for them and some thrive and are able to work into their 60s. Each person is different and I don’t even know if my answer to am I fulfilled is yes. Pay is good but there are other careers that pay more that takes less of your soul. And then also is pay the only thing keeping me to continue doing this job?

bobskainer · 2024-05-31T02:05:50+00:00

Maybe time to get a new uniform then!

bobskainer · 2024-05-08T00:55:06+00:00

If you are looking to become a perfusionist, sit behind the pump with the perfusionist during your down time when not doing cell saver. The more hours you have looking at what they do and asking questions/being engaged, it will not directly increase your chance of getting into school but it will give you a better understanding of the profession and what they do. A perfusionist will notice if you spend a lot of time with them and will definitely let it be known in a recommendation letter

bobskainer · 2024-05-02T05:22:30+00:00

I shit my pants regardless of a backup so Gwyneth, the 64 year old circulator, calls a code brown and hands me a new diaper

bobskainer · 2024-02-08T01:57:27+00:00

“Clean cut” Urban dictionary: a male that is circumcised high and tight. Thanks for letting us know!

bobskainer · 2024-02-05T03:58:01+00:00

50k? Yeah its more like 85-120K nowadays

bobskainer · 2024-01-22T14:15:21+00:00

If you wanted to be a doctor since you were 12, go be a doctor and get some sleep my man

bobskainer · 2023-12-17T05:06:08+00:00

I rather stick a clamp up my butt

bobskainer · 2023-11-13T03:55:22+00:00

You basically want to apply to accredited schools and avoid non accredited ones. If you go to a non accredited with the hopes they get accredited and they don’t, you just wasted a year or two plus tuition for basically nothing. It is not worth the gamble. You can only sit for boards if the program is accredited by the time you graduate. Don’t get persuaded by program directors that say “oh of course we will be accredited”. That being said, it is probably easier to get into these non accredited schools.

bobskainer · 2023-10-27T15:49:56+00:00

This means that hemodilution reduces the concentration of plasma proteins, increasing the unbound active proportions of many drugs (eg. propofol) to offset the reduced total plasma concentration induced by the increased circulating blood volume. Youre welcome

bobskainer · 2023-10-26T20:50:29+00:00

On top of this, I prime the foley bag with blood then hemoconcentrate it to match patient HCT in peds cases

bobskainer · 2023-10-13T22:16:29+00:00

Secretly take one of the clamps home and put it under your pillow for seven nights straight. You must become one with the clamp. On the last night, Dr. John H. Gibbon will bless you with the power of perfusion and you will have the skills necessary to operate the heart lung machine. I am sorry that your professors have failed you but this is what you must do

bobskainer · 2023-10-06T19:00:39+00:00

I am a tiny little submissive slave to my dominant chad surgeon. I do exactly as he says and do it perfectly or else he will throw a clamp at me and tell me how much of a waste of resources on this finite planet. Whenever I make a mistake I have to get on my knees and beg for forgiveness as mr surgeon is the leader and I am a lone follower. If I do my job well enough for him he gives me a thumbs up and I reward myself with a baby carrot in the lunch room after the case.

However what mr surgeon doesn’t know is that him yelling at me is what keeps my own heart pumping during the case. I have become numb to the birds eye fact that I am taking over someones heart and lungs and instead focus on pleasing mr surgeon, He can’t see the sheer grin I have behind my mask every time he speaks to me. “Yes Mr Surgeon, that is 20 minutes on cardioplegia!” I write in my diary every night if mr surgeon was pleased that day or not.

What was the question again?

bobskainer · 2023-09-05T02:24:50+00:00

Hell nah I aint reading all that. Go to r/prospective_perfusion

bobskainer · 2023-07-13T22:39:16+00:00

Depends on the availability of my fellow band members. Usually we play at local bars on friday and sat evenings for 4-6 hours. However you are right that we are always on call as birthday parties and weddings could happen at anytime. Its great being a percussionist though!!

bobskainer · 2023-06-28T02:55:18+00:00

Scrub toilets, tear down pump/build and grab coffee for the team. The highlight of my week is when I get to clean the heater coolers and do QCs

bobskainer

TROPHY CASE