Job differences

JenERally · Nov 4, 2014

Personally, I think the GI techs on my unit provide more technical assistance than pt care. They're extremely well versed in equipment knowledge and troubleshooting, but as far as many nursing functions, not so much.

brownbook · Nov 5, 2014

Gosh...the tech does so much more than the nurse. Too bad they get so much less pay!

The tech has to know the computer, monitor, machine (whatever that thing is called the scope is connect to)? Makes sure the suction and water is functioning for the scope. The tech knows which forceps, dilation equipment, banding equipment, hot biopsy, to use etc., and has to inject, release, pump up, etc. these various pieces of equipment that go down a scope. The tech assist a lot if APC or bovie is needed. The correct settings on the machine. The tech makes sure the pictures are printing. Where I work the tech cleans the scopes. I am probably omitting a lot of other things the tech does.

The nurse (if they are the sedation nurse), should solely be responsible for the patient. Breathing, heart rate, O2 sat., etc. But also marks down where any specimens were taken and labels the specimen jars appropriately.

A regular full time GI nurse may, and should, know how to do a lot of the tech's job, set up the bovie, and everything else. (I have only ever worked part time in GI.)

Many centers are going to anesthesiologists to do sedation...the nurse does even less.....just marks the specimen location, makes sure the pathology paper work, specimen jars, etc. are appropriately labeled and get to the lab.

Also the nurse makes sure it is the correct patient, the consent is signed, the patient is NPO, has a current history and physical. It is the Dr's responsibility but still the nurse should know if the patient is appropriate for sedation, their allergies, etc.

MissChrissy · Nov 10, 2014

Gosh...the tech does so much more than the nurse. Too bad they get so much less pay!
The tech has to know the computer, monitor, machine (whatever that thing is called the scope is connect to)? Makes sure the suction and water is functioning for the scope. The tech knows which forceps, dilation equipment, banding equipment, hot biopsy, to use etc., and has to inject, release, pump up, etc. these various pieces of equipment that go down a scope. The tech assist a lot if APC or bovie is needed. The correct settings on the machine. The tech makes sure the pictures are printing. Where I work the tech cleans the scopes. I am probably omitting a lot of other things the tech does.
The nurse (if they are the sedation nurse), should solely be responsible for the patient. Breathing, heart rate, O2 sat., etc. But also marks down where any specimens were taken and labels the specimen jars appropriately.
A regular full time GI nurse may, and should, know how to do a lot of the tech's job, set up the bovie, and everything else. (I have only ever worked part time in GI.)
Many centers are going to anesthesiologists to do sedation...the nurse does even less.....just marks the specimen location, makes sure the pathology paper work, specimen jars, etc. are appropriately labeled and get to the lab.
Also the nurse makes sure it is the correct patient, the consent is signed, the patient is NPO, has a current history and physical. It is the Dr's responsibility but still the nurse should know if the patient is appropriate for sedation, their allergies, etc.

That sounds about right. Our center uses anesthesiologists and CRNAs to give sedation. Besides what you've listed, techs here do pre-op-Bringing the patient back, identifying the right pt/procedure, asking the questions to place in the report (meds/allergies/time they stopped eating/drinking/etc), start IVs, getting a BS reading on diabetics, administering saline to those that are really dehydrated (i.e., vomiting a lot prior to procedure), getting consents. Then as you said, preparing the room, setting up the equipment, assisting doctors in all aspects of therapeutic interventions, recording the location/method of removal, # of jars, labeling jars and packaging. Also recovery where we monitor/take vitals the patient post-procedure, report any thing amiss to the doctor, administer O2 if the so2 are too low, give the patient something to eat/drink, answer any basic questions the patients may have before the doctor speaks with them, have them get dressed, sign their operative report and have them on their way.

The day before, we do the pre calls to remind them of their procedure, and answer any questions about their bowel prep/what meds they need to stop, etc. We prepare the patient's charts for the next day.