From er nursing to endo

[Ryan RN]

ive been a ER nurse for 9 years. I needed a change so I recently accepted a endo position over going to the OR. ill be replacing somebody who retired from endo after 30 years. the rest of the team have been there for forever

basically, I just want some insight on a typical day of an endo nurse. it is hospital endo so im assuming ill be getting everything endo related among other things.

[brownbook]

I worked 5 years in a smallish acute care hospital. We rotated between out patient surgery and the GI clinic so my typical day may only be typical to me í ½í¸„.

When scheduled in GI I did routine out patient EGD's, colonoscopies, and ERCP's. Sometimes a " floor" patient would be brought to the out patient clinic for these procedures. We also went to the ICU for GI bleeds.

I can't remember but we, or maybe just the on call OR nurse and tech?, would be called in for after hour GI emergencies,(usually GI bleeds). (Luckily I was seldom on call, money hungry co-workers always wanted to take my call.....I was ecstatic to give it to them!)

[owlhaveyouknow]

You sound just like me! I worked in the ER for many years before transferring to in hospital endoscopy. It's a small department and typically one where someone has to retire or die for a position to become available.

I'm not sure how your hospital functions but we prep all of our patients which includes gathering health history and other pertinent information, starting the IV and placing them on all the monitoring equipment and getting the rooms ready. We typically have techs in the rooms, but that's not always the case. Sometimes it's two nurses, so one will sedate, monitor the patient and chart and the other will assist the provider during the procedure. We also recover our own patients, which includes frequent vitals and assessment as well as patient teaching and discharge instruction. It was a big change. You go from having upwards of 6 patients to only one if you're in the rooms and maybe 2-3 if you're working recovery. You'll still be busy, but it's not the constant mental multi-tasking of thinking of what each of your patients needs or being in triage and having that pressure of patient after patient checking in. Usually, you know how many cases you have scheduled when you come in. There will be add-ons, but there's an end in site. Unlike the ER, there's no waiting to give report to someone and when you're done you get to go home. Please feel free to let me know if you have any other questions and to let me know how you're liking it so far.

[Natasha A., CNA, LVN]

hi, who are techs that work in GI? Are they LPNs? thanks!

[brownbook]

Last I heard GI techs can be unlicensed personnel who have been oriented, received training, at the clinic where they are employed. I guess, think, they are working "under" the MD's license which is why they don't need to be licensed?

I have worked with techs who are CNA's and were trained on the job. I have worked in clinics where the GI techs were all certified OR techs.

[Nursegal2020]

Hey Ryan I’m thinking about making the same move, ER to GI. How are you liking it? Are you still there? I know this post was from awhile ago ?