Clinical perfusionist
Keep people alive during heart surgery or liver transplants. Work the heart-lung machines that keep oxygen and blood circulating during the operation.
Also known as: clinical perfusion scientist
About the job
What it's like
Can you picture yourself playing a key role in life-saving surgery? In this role, you'd keep people alive while they're in surgery.
You'd set up and manage equipment during operations such as:
cardiac surgery
You'd monitor and manage patient’s blood flow, body temperature, and respiratory functions. You'd use a heart-lung machine, also called a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, which takes over the functions of the heart and lungs.
isolated limb perfusion
You’d keep blood and oxygen circulating in a patient’s arm or leg separate from the rest of their body. Chemotherapy drugs can the treat a tumor in the isolated area.
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
You'd do this for patients with heart or lung failure or those awaiting transplants. An ECMO machine supplies oxygen to blood outside the body. It's then warmed and pumped back into the patient’s body to help their heart and lungs rest and recover.
You need to be a great team player, working closely alongside a variety of medical staff. Operations can last many hours; you’d need to concentrate for long periods of time. If you can stay calm in pressure situations and want a career in medicine, this could be the role for you.
Hours
You'll work a 37-hour week with evening and weekend shifts, but you may have to be on call for emergencies. Part-time work may be available.
Environment
Based in a hospital, you'll work in operating theatres, intensive care areas, recovery rooms and anaesthetic areas. You'd wear a uniform and other protective clothing, such as a face mask, when in sterile working areas.
Travel
You may spend some time travelling to hospitals.
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Life sciences Healthcare
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- perfusion
- cardiac surgery
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ecmo)
- biology
- clinical practices
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- making decisions
- taking initiative
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- verbal communication
- cooperating
- resilience
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Chemistry
Human Biology
Physics
Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
Skills for Work: Laboratory Science
Foundation Apprenticeship: Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills)
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You'll need to get an honours degree in a relevant science or medicine related subject. After this, you can apply for an NHS role as a trainee clinical perfusion scientist.
What you need for a degree course will depend on the subject and university. You'll likely need either:
four or five Highers and National 5 qualifications
a relevant Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND)
Some courses in these areas can be very competitive. You can check the exact entry requirements for a course you're interested in on the university's website.
As part of your trainee role you'll get on-the-job training and complete a MSc in Perfusion Science at the University of Bristol.
Qualifications that offer experience in the health, care or science sectors such as Health and Social Care (SCQF level 6) or Laboratory Science (SCQF level 5) may also be of value when applying to courses.
A relevant Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF level 6) can also be of value when applying.
When complete you're training, you’ll register as a qualified clinical perfusionist. You can do this with the College of Clinical Perfusion Scientists. You’ll then be ready to practise in the NHS.
You'll also need to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
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