Considering going into GI nursing

"knowing" the floor nurses and patient population on any one floor doesn't mean you shouldn't expand to a new place, a new pace. Frankly, who do you know that took one job, never left that one space, and retired from that job? No one.

I used to work med-surg, a frantic pace on a very busy unit, in charge five nights a week. Used to do 3 12's, then administration preferred the continuity of 5 8's, so....there it was.

I left for GI, ambulatory care center a year ago. The pace is different, the patients are different, the environment is different. You're not seeking such a complete difference, though: you're planning on going to the hospital's own GI unit. A bit of a different animal, as hospital patients frequently have multiple co-morbids that MAKE them require the hospital unit, instead of an ambulatory facility.

Are you looking at working the endoscopy suite (learning procedure room, admit/PACU)? If so, will you be starting with admit/discharge (which you already should be familiar with, working the floor) and training for the procedure room? The hours you mentioned seem rather late....is it NOT endoscopy, but rather GI post-procedure nursing?

"knowing" the floor nurses and patient population on any one floor doesn't mean you shouldn't expand to a new place, a new pace. Frankly, who do you know that took one job, never left that one space, and retired from that job? No one.

I used to work med-surg, a frantic pace on a very busy unit, in charge five nights a week. Used to do 3 12's, then administration preferred the continuity of 5 8's, so....there it was.

I left for GI, ambulatory care center a year ago. The pace is different, the patients are different, the environment is different. You're not seeking such a complete difference, though: you're planning on going to the hospital's own GI unit. A bit of a different animal, as hospital patients frequently have multiple co-morbids that MAKE them require the hospital unit, instead of an ambulatory facility.

Are you looking at working the endoscopy suite (learning procedure room, admit/PACU)? If so, will you be starting with admit/discharge (which you already should be familiar with, working the floor) and training for the procedure room? The hours you mentioned seem rather late....is it NOT endoscopy, but rather GI post-procedure nursing?

I actually got offered the position today. It is admit/recovery and procedure (including inpatient and outpatient). It includes all procedures (ERCP, EUS, liver biopsy, manometry, etc). The way it works is that inpatients come to a separate floor/endoscopy suite than the outpatients(and the nurses staff both units depending on staffing and how many patients). The on call portion is only for inpatient emergent cases. I decided to take the position and I was excited to be chosen. I even got picked over an ICU nurse. I feel very lucky and I can't wait to learn GI nursing!

Well, then, WELCOME to a small and exclusive club, lol......seriously, I really do enjoy GI. You'll be teased by those "outside" our circle (honestly, do you have a CLUE how many butt/poop jokes I've heard?!)....but so what. Pretty soon you'll have your own repertoire to draw from :)

And yes, every once in awhile, when one of us notices a string of colonoscopies in a row on the schedule (as opposed to EGDs), someone will break into the theme song from Rawhide, with a twist: "Rollin', Rollin', Rollin', Keep those Colons Rollin'!!"

hey! your story sounds SO similar to mine! I'm wondering if you like GI nursing or if you regretted your decision?

I’d like to know how you like GI nursing? I had an interview and not sure if I want to leave med-surg and go to a speciality. Let me know how it is going?