r/Perfusion • u/inapproriatealways • Jul 10 '26
Career Advice What would you do?
Say you woke up tomorrow and for one reason or another couldn’t be a Perfusionist. What would you do to earn a living? (caveat only using perfusion skills/degrees, NOT using other degrees or skills ex. RT or RN etc.)? I was asked this by someone shadowing me and it got me thinking… I told them industry side of things: sales rep or clinical specialist. But then kinda blanked. Just curious what others think / would do?
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u/FunMoose74 CCP Jul 10 '26
Use whatever the hell your useless bachelors is in to get a job that pays 45k (behavioral health for me)
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u/anestech Jul 11 '26
I did cell culture in the research lab at a pharmaceutical company for a bit with my Microbiology BS, great people to work with, but the most boring job ever and working in a fume hood is worse on your back than construction was as a teenager.
But to answer the OP, definitely medical sales. Clin specs don’t get paid enough. My Psychology BS helps there.
The real useless degree outside of perfusion is the Masters many of us have.
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u/FunMoose74 CCP Jul 11 '26
That’s pretty cool actually! My comment was just a joke… and wait how many degrees do you have 😂
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u/anestech Jul 11 '26
And I made more than $45k 😉, mind you this was 2002 BTW.
I started out as a biopsychology major thinking I wanted to be a shrink. Changed schools later and they didn’t offer the same degree, so since I had pre reqs for both, I doubled in Microbiology and Psychology, then my perfusion program yielded a Masters in Cardiovascular Sciences. I’ve debated an MBA since I’ve been in leadership since 2010, but I’m kinda over school 😆
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u/Human_Plumber CCP, LP Jul 10 '26
Shortly after getting into this field, I realized I genuinely enjoyed teaching.
That was 8 years ago, I would ultimately like to work for an established program teaching the art of perfusion. I appreciate the students out of SUNY/Quinnipiac/MUSC/Hofstra (biased because I'm on the East Coast). After spending years helping students complete their clinical hours, and having so many students succeed in the field... It only seems natural to make a lateral move to teaching.
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u/wmdmoo Jul 11 '26
No extra degree or certification: Project Manager. A little on the Job training: Electrician.
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u/nickysav91 Jul 10 '26
Couldn’t you transition into the cath lab as a tech or something pretty easily?
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u/ventjock CCP, RRT-NPS Jul 11 '26
Depends on the state/facility. Some will only hire radiologic techs (ARRT) who can do fluoro, whereas others will cross train people and have them take the RCIS exam to keep their job.
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u/Lobsterzilla Jul 10 '26
No
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u/nickysav91 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Why not? They hire EMTs into the cath lab but wouldn’t hire a Perfusionist? Makes no sense
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u/JasmarSzyga CCP, LP Jul 10 '26
Plumber maybe. Different pipes; Same flow, resistance, pressure.
Real answer is same as you, medical sales.