I’m currently applying this cycle to (hopefully) start fall 2025 and had a question about reference letters. As I was going through the letter writer requirements it said that it has to be a supervisor and can’t be coworkers. I currently work as a pharmacy technician but I work on evenings so I’ve literally never interacted with my direct supervisor. Could I ask a pharmacist to write one for me? The pharmacist has actually seen me work and interact with patients and I feel like it would be a much better letter than one from my direct supervisor. Technically the pharmacist is not my supervisor, but they technically supervise technicians.

I’m planning on sending an email to the schools I’m applying to make sure it’s okay, but thought I’d ask reddit first.

Hi, I am curious to hear how your team's schedule is made each day/ week. Please include how many people you have on your team. Is it just a rotation or do you base it off who has done a case last etc.

As a new grad or currently seeking admission what would be your ideal Perfusion School?

Here are some of my preferences:

Master’s Degree Simulation Time Longer vs Shorter timeline to graduation Tuition range Location of rotations and variety

what others would make you apply and put on top of your list ?

I am from India . I am completing my degree ( BSC cardiac perfusion technology) next year . What are the requirements to be an perfusionist What are the things to learn to improve myself

Hey everybody,

I'm just wondering how you guys learned to deal both with "vocal" surgeons as well as chaotic cases. What things did you do to become more comfortable?

Hi! I am currently applying to perfusionist school and am trying to connect with current perfusionist in the area to ask questions and potential shadowing opportunities near the Cincinnati area. I'm currently a clinical device rep who works in the OR so I already am up to date on anything I need to get into most hospitals. Thank you!

Just wanted some insight on the work/life balance, hospitals or groups to work at, and general opinions about the area/surrounding area. Currently at a very high volume institution and in the next few years will be seriously looking at slowing down a bit to have a family, so figured I would reach out a bit in advance to see if Charlotte will be the place I settle down.

Hi everyone! I have received my interview date for lipscomb’s perfusion program and I wanted to see if anyone has been through this process? Do you have any advice for this interview or know what I am to expect? Any info would be appreciated, thanks!

Hey there, I'm a 23 y/o paramedic looking towards the future and considering if perfusion might be right for me. I dropped out of my senior year of college in a pre-med track to go to paramedic school since it was obvious to me my grades were not up to snuff. I have all of my core classes done and would have to likely retake the majority of my pre-reqs to get a higher GPA. A lot of them were Ps during covid.

Has anyone here done this transition?

How hard is perfusion school vs paramedic school?

Is it possible to come back from low performance by retaking classes?

Thanks.

Hello r/perfusion,

I’m an icu nurse highly considering perfusion school. I’ve been reading online about how perfusionists push medication through the bypass circuit. It’s doesn’t really clarify which medications are used. In your practice, which medications do you use the most? Are you mostly treating abgs? Or Anticoagulation?

Thanks in advance!

Hey y'all. I am currently applying for perfusionist school, this is my second time around. I am looking to do some more interviews of practicing/retired perfusionists! If you would be willing to help me out we can either set up an approx. 30 min phone call or I can send the questions over via email/reddit and you can just get them back to me. Let me know!

Second, I am looking for suggestions to get some observations. I used to work for a hospital so I knew people that helped me get into the OR previously. I no longer am employed there so I am curious how others have gotten connected and in to see some procedures.

Thanks!

Hello! I am in search of perfusion assistant job openings in SoCal (I'm currently located in the Temecula area). I got my B.S. degree in 2023 and have some forensic pathology shadow experience under my belt. I'd be so grateful for any leads!

Wanted to see what everyone was wearing in terms of shoes? I've been trying different shoes that offer more support/cushioning and can't decide on a brand. I definitely want something more supportive than Crocs that I see a lot of people wear and more durable than normal tennis shoes because I've worn through two pairs in the past year and a half or so!

Definitely wanting something that will be anti-fatigue/supportive!

Hey yall! Just a little about me to introduce myself...

I started school in 2018 for pre-medicine I had a high interest in transplants and research. However due to covid I had to drop out and I decided to join the military. I did 4 years in aircraft metals technology (completely unrelated to medicine! Haha) now I'm out and pursuing school again. Things are different now I have a son but my husband is super supportive if I need to travel for clinical. I'm just worried for a couple of reasons that I might not be as competitive as other applicants due to my gpa and experience. Also a little worried about how it will all work while being a mom. I'm currently an anethesia tech and love seeing profusionist's work. If you have any experiences or advice please let me know!

Our assistant got in for the January class at UT and is leaving us. We will be posting the job in the next few days. We have had 4 out of 5 get in to school. Pay is not great but we do get overtime and cost of living in Jackson is pretty low. Go to the UMC website and search for requisition number R00039141. It should be posted by the end of the week or beginning of next week.

Headcount for the F team lol. Seems like A LOT of people failed this year. Know 5 in my class who failed just today….seemed incredibley extraneous and I’m praying they curve this.

Putting out feelers for how anyone has addressed their priming protocol if you used plasmalyte or if you use other fluids (LR, saline, albumin, etc.) to prime.

Can't reduce our prime volume anymore than it is currently and we will be out of plasmalyte in 2-3 days.

Concerned mainly with electrolyte/pH balance and not handing off the patient to critical care with terrible values.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

I am currently a lab tech and I don’t see myself doing this forever. I am 26 and would like to pursue a different career. Anyone here regret going into this field l? Or wish they would have done something else?

I'm graduating from undergrad school in Dec/2025. In my country there's no perfusionist assistant jobs or perfusion shadowing (but I have a few connections and I'm gonna try to get a shadowing in January). I'm afraid that maybe a shadowing won't fit in my schedule (I have a research assistant role until February/2025 and probably will start looking for jobs in two months, since there's no income from shadowing), so I was wondering if there's any other kinds of jobs that would allow me to get OR perfusion experience. Thank you.

... but I had to harvest this low hanging fruit.

Hi all. I am a future RT planning to go bet my BSRC while working full time, then plan to apply to perfusion programs. To obtain all prerequisites, will that be around another year of school? Is there a better bachelors to get instead of RC to check off prerequisites simultaneously? I know it varies from program to program what specifically is required but curious how it generally looks. Thank you in advance.

Hello everyone!

I’ve been lurking on this community for a while and have been drawn to the field of perfusion. I currently work as an RN in the ICU here in the bay area and looking to see if there any perfusionists on here willing to let me follow them for a case and the day to day tasks they fulfill that would be greatly appreciated.

Hey everybody,

I've been looking into perfusion as a possible jumping point in my career. I've worked as a CAA for 8 years (I'm early 30's). The long and short of it is that I'm from a state where CAA's can't practice and I'm missing home and family. I'm just curious if anyone has made the jump FROM midlevel anesthesia. Also curious if my age/experience would be a hinderance for possible admission to a program. I would be looking in probably a year or two after saving some money in a 529 (not looking to do student loans again).

It looks like perfusion is decently projected as far as employment goes. The extra call would suck, but that's the price of going home. I can't really think of another pathway except PA or maybe an accelerated PharmD? I was glancing into other industries and it looked pretty bleak.

Thoughts? Anything you think I should consider?