Perfusionists
Job description
These individuals assist patients who need artificial cardiovascular, respiratory, or circulatory support. They manage patients’ physiological functions during surgery. They assemble, maintain, and operate extracorporeal circulation equipment and other cardiovascular devices. They work with anesthesiologists during cardiovascular surgery. They work in hospitals.
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Hazardous chemical
- Biological agents
- Radiation
- Falling objects
Main tasks
- Operate a device that artificially replaces the heart and lungs.
- Monitor and control patients’ vital signs during cardiopulmonary surgery.
- Participate in the routine maintenance, calibration, and inspection of perfusion equipment.
- Supervise and train students and other clinical perfusionists.
- Take samples using catheters already in place.
- Program a cardiac pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator.
- Administer medications, blood products, or other prescribed substances.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to supervisory and trainer positions.
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
College
DCS in techniques d'inhalothérapie
Placement rate: 91.3%
6.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Membership in the Canadian Society of Clinical Perfusion.
Sometimes required
- Training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is often required.
- A Class 5 driver's licence may be required or considered an asset.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Judgment and decision-making
- Critical thought
- Solving complex problems
- Monitoring operations
- Information processing
- Operations and control
- Science
- Time management
- Installation
- Coordination
- Equipment maintenance
- Material resource management
- Equipment selection
- Oral expression
- System analysis
- Operation analysis
- Quality control analysis
- Learning strategies
- Teaching
- Mathematics
Abilities
- Control accuracy
- Reaction time
- Selective attention
- Information processing speed
- Perception speed
- Awareness of issues
- Hand-arm stability
- Limb coordination
- Overall coordination of the body
- Near vision
- Auditory attention
- Speech clarity
- Manual dexterity
- Digital dexterity
- Oral comprehension
- Limb movement speed
- Written comprehension
- Overall balance of the body
- Physical flexibility in extension
- Endurance
- Written expression
- Dynamic physical flexibility
- Basic numeracy
- Verbal skills
Knowledge and attributes
- Autonomy
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to adapt
- Capacity to work in a team
- Rigour
- Tolerance to stress
- Sense of observation
- Commitment to quality
- Knowledge of biology
- Knowledge of medicine or dentistry
Interests
- Make, build, install
- Conduct tests and trials, control processes
- Teach or educate
- Assist or care for people
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (CNP 32103)
Skill type
Health
Last update: January 29, 2026