is this a california thing? gi tech can't take biopsies!

[brownbook]

I work part time, extra help, at a surgical center that also does GI procedures. One day I'm told by a GI/OR technician that tech's can't collect specimens? Some reference to CME (I think that was the accronym) and techs are not licensed to "cut," so techs can't hold the biopsy forcep and "open and close" the forceps under the GI doctors instructions to get polyps or biopsies, RN's would have to do it? There was even some mention of this crossing over to what techs do in OR's? Anyone heard about this? PS, we are continuing as before, tech's are "opening and closing" the biopsy forceps until the issue is cleared up.

[Chuckie]

In washington state the only thing an OR tech is able to do in the GI Lab is clean scopes. They have worked in our GI lab for the past 10 years doing nearly everything but sedate the patient which takes an RN. About 6 months back someone found a piece of paper that said that they can not sever tissue which was to understand that the could not biopsy inject, or snare or cut on and ERCP or clip so they trained all the RNS to do there jobs and they were eliminated from our GI LAB.

Now the same paper that was found somewhere says that an RN is not allowed to sever tissue. So does that eliminate our jobs too? We also do the cuts for PEGs which on bad days we are told we are not allowed to do and on good days we are told we are allowed to do. go figure

[shoecrazynurse]

First of all, Are you in California?

I work in GI lab in So Cal and the techs who are certified MA's (medical assistants) to begin with, are the ones who do ALL the biopsies ALL the time, snares, lifts, everything. The RN is there to sedate and continuously monitor the patient, its not safe to do both. I guess you could get two RN's, but they'd never do that, we're too expensive! lol....

Anyways, I've never heard of this happening, and really don't think it will due to $$$ issues. Some RN's in my department are trained to do tech stuff, but not all of us. I know all other hospitals in the area function the same way as well. So yeah, weird, I think.

[barnes2358]

I'm in Kentucky and approximately 2 years ago or Endo Techs were told they could no longer take biopsies, snares, injections ect. We were told this was on the recomedations SGNA...since then or department has moved to Peri-operative were the CST are allowed to do these procedures...

[brownbook]

Hi, thanks for your replies. I posted the same question under the general nursing section. I got a real "leagalese" response from jer-sd, quoting the California Board of Nursing, basically saying that techs weren't supposed to get biopsies!!! It was way back in April 12th. Well, like who cares!!! Nothing has changed at our out patient surgery GI clinic, techs are taking all the biopsies!!!!! I hate it when stupid policies get in the way of what is working fine!!!!!