Background: There were concerns about reported decreasing job satisfaction, disengagement and decrease sense of belonging among ECMO nurses. As a result, a participatory management style was adapted to design a program that enables nurses to transition from passive to active participants. This project aims to (i) implement a five-year ECMO nurse pathway, (ii) increase job satisfaction and (iii) enhance nurses’ involvement in ECMO training and in maintaining the ECMO service. Activity: A 5-year progression pathway was implemented in 2025 that starts from novice to expert and culminates in the senior level achieving the trainer role. Discussion: The program aims to support progression of ECMO nurses’ skills from novice to train the trainer level utilising repetitive teaching strategies through didactic, case-based learning and simulations. The collaborative learning with clear expectations and shared mental frames promotes peer connection, reflective practice and communication within the team. Subsequently, the participatory approach improves the ECMO nurses’ wellbeing as they developed to be empowered practitioners with increased in clinical confidence, debriefing skills and coping mechanisms. Conclusion: Embedding a participatory progression pathway for ECMO nurses may lead to increased motivation and job satisfaction whilst strengthening sense of belonging, ownership and sustained commitment among ECMO nurses.
Gevera et al. (Mon,) studied this question.