Future of endoscopy nursing?

Specialties Gastroenterology

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, ICU/CCU, GE Lab.

Hi, I've been a SAHM for over a year now. I've worked ICU/CCU, med/surg, tele. And I've been reading postings about endoscopy nursing and am really interested. I'd like to work in a dr's office but am curious as to what the future is in endo nursing. I've read that patients can now swallow a type of pill that has a camera inside and then bring it to the doctor. If this is the case, won't that decrease the need for endoscopy nurses? Am I out on a limb. I'm just trying to see where the trend is going. thanks for any responses:wink2:

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

we only use pill cam endoscopies and agile patency studies for people who are unable to have an EGD for whatever reason or for people who need small bowel evaluation. the CT evaluation of the colon is still in the works but does not really prove as an alternative as it can miss small polyps, microscopic colitis, etc..... our endoscopy business is still going strong... :)

i work in an outpatient endo center, hours are great, but lots of standing and lots of charting.....

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Dunno about a Drs offive but I worked Endo in a large hospital. We saved many people from "investigational" surgery as there are many things that can be done via endoscopic means vs other exploratory laps or invasive ab surgs. We also got GI bleeds, we found the source and stopped it. Many more are requesting having endoscopies as second opinions vs being sliced and diced. Oh and Colonoscopies are the only was to both see and treat a whole host of common problems.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, PCU.
we only use pill cam endoscopies and agile patency studies for people who are unable to have an EGD for whatever reason or for people who need small bowel evaluation. the CT evaluation of the colon is still in the works but does not really prove as an alternative as it can miss small polyps, microscopic colitis, etc..... our endoscopy business is still going strong... :)

i work in an outpatient endo center, hours are great, but lots of standing and lots of charting.....[/quote= I'm a 2 year old nurse and I've been in Med/Surg from the getgo. I'm 55 years old and my feet and back are killing me! i went into nursing late in life and really didn't stoop to think about the physical strain. You mentioned alot of standing in endoscopy nursing. Still, is it a better, less-physically drainingn scenario than Med/Surg? I sure would appreciate your advise. :yeah::nurse:

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we only use pill cam endoscopies and agile patency studies for people who are unable to have an EGD for whatever reason or for people who need small bowel evaluation. the CT evaluation of the colon is still in the works but does not really prove as an alternative as it can miss small polyps, microscopic colitis, etc..... our endoscopy business is still going strong... :)

i work in an outpatient endo center, hours are great, but lots of standing and lots of charting.....[/quote= I'm a 2 year old nurse and I've been in Med/Surg from the getgo. I'm 55 years old and my feet and back are killing me! i went into nursing late in life and really didn't stoop to think about the physical strain. You mentioned alot of standing in endoscopy nursing. Still, is it a better, less-physically drainingn scenario than Med/Surg? I sure would appreciate your advise. :yeah::nurse:

It is still less physically ,mentally and emotionally draining than Med/Surg. I think that the future for Endo looks great with the increase need for screening. I also think that technology is advancing rapidly and pretty soon will see more scopes of the small bowel (enteroscopies are done sporadically at this point,we did only a few in the last 2 years) and new ways to treat different gi problems endoscopically.

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Specializes in endo,medsurg,dialysis,home health.

If you want to do it, go for it. Don't concern yourself with things that haven't happened yet (or may not ever happen). I've been in endo for a year and I love it. No two days are the same. We do 150 cases a day on average, and we show no signs of slowing down anytime soon! Don't let fear determine your life OR your career.

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I am a nurse endoscopist in england. Endoscopy is increasing with the national bowel cancer screening. I undertake Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy both diagnostic and therapeutic. Nothing will ever replace being able to carry out therapeutics like removing polyps and taking Biopsies. The camera PILL is more for small bowel disease mainly for occult blood loss. There are nurses here that read the pictures and set up the electronics but I think it is a fairly tedious job.

CT colonosgraphy ( 3 D Immaging ) is the biggest threat to us however you have to weigh up the risk of Xray if this is being used to screen people.

I would say develop whre you can and go for it.

Michelle Moran GI Endoscopist Stockport Manchester UK

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