Need some sound advice from all GI Nurse, Tech and CNA

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Hi All, I have committed to myself to a career change from marketing into Nursing. I have just completed my CNA and now certified. Recently attended a Health care fair at a local hospital and was offered a job in a GI Pre-op unit as a nursing assistant. The hours are great, the staff appear to be friendly and I was advised that in addition to NA duties there are opportunities to assist in clinical.

I jumped at the opportunity but have to say I am excited but anxious at the same time. I need know the following:

1) Is CNA the same as a Tech?

2) What do I need to know about a role of a NA in the GI pre-op unit and how do I prepare myself, i.e books to read, medical terms to know

3) how do I organize my day?

4)please advice me of anything you think I need to know about GI UNIT.

Thanks for reading this post and the time to reply to it.

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Specializes in Med-Surg,Critical Care, Radiology,GI.

Welcome to GI! I have no CNAs that work for me, only techs, these are scrub techs. Much of GI technical work training is on the job. My best advice is to learn the flow of the lab you work for, take EVERY opportunity offered to learn and enjoy. You will learn and see many new things. GI is not for everyone, you will either like all of it or hate it.Good Luck with your new job!

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Thank you Monkeelouise for your reply. I start work nov 19th pending background, physical checks etc. But I will follow your advice. I have an idea of what to expect and am looking forward to it. :)

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Specializes in 9 Years as Surgical Tech in Endoscopy.

Hello!! I have been a Surgical Tech in Endoscopy for 9 years. I am now an RN student, and looking to get a part-time job in the GI Lab for some extra money. I love it!! I can tell you a few things.... The first is that there are many types of "Techs" that can work GI. These can include Surgical Techs (they go to school to learn the OR, Endo, and Central Service), Endo Techs that have learned on the job and have specialized in GI only, and CNA (such as yourself!). I am in no way saying that this is all, but these are the only ones I have learned about from the 9 facilities and 4 states that I have worked in.

The other thing that I can tell you to expect is greeting patients, registering them, instructing them on how to change into their gown and placing them in their assigned beds, taking and recording their vital signs, and assisting the RN's,CRNA's, Physicians, and anyone else that may ask. You could also be trained on putting charts together, helping with admission papers or registration, and so on.

As for the procedure rooms.....OMG....jump on the chance to at least get in a room and observe. That way you can better understand what it is the patient is there for, why the preparations the patients go through is important, and can ease you into the idea of working in the procedure rooms. If you love it and have an interest in it...go for as much as the facility you work in will allow you to do. It is a very rewarding career.

I hope this helped. Good luck on your first day!!!

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Thanks for responding, I officially start 11/19/07 (hey!) and feeling very excited but nervous, until I read your note. I will take every chance or opportunity I get to learn.

Can I ask you one more question? In the 9 facilities and 4 state you have worked in did any of the cna/tech you knew had done Phlebotomy. I was just asking becasuse i have been reading on cna forums of other cna's doing Phlebotomy to gain extra skills so they get to do more and get more pay and easy to move into other units i.e emergency.

any way thanks and i will post back my experience and happy Thanks Giving!

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