LibraSun

Like EndoNurse, we use water (but sterile, because the tap water here can be hard and may cause mineral buildup in the scope)to flush/check the channels. We use an alcohol flush after cleaning to aid in drying. Because isopropol alcohol can cause de...

The direct answer to your question is: Our endoscopy unit requires critical care experience and ACLS certs. Although we work in the hospital, we are independent in that we don't have RTs around or EKG techs or an IV team, etc so we have to be able ...

That is the answer.....

Will tell you why later, but I want to ask you : Are you a redhead? (NO, I wasn't there at the procedure!)

Hmmm....we DON'T clean it--assuming it is going back into the same patient!! Our scope table is clean where we put the bander on (the scope was just lying there BEFORE we put it in the pts mouth). We use clean gloves and the bander is new and supp...

Staffing is an important factor here. You should be given breaks every 2 hours or so (there is a law about getting breaks, you know). Our unit has a charge nurse who acts as relief for breaks and lunches. And Yes, endoscopy suites are danged busy p...

Guys, I think you should check with your ped Doc. These are abnormal bowel movements and should be discussed with the PCP--not in an online message board. We all know possible causes of stool changes, but we don't know the little patients. It is ...

$4.50/hr oncall 1.5X base hourly if called in w/ 2.5 hour guarantee. OR/GI oncall.

I agree that propofol can cause hypotension, respiratory depression and loss of protective reflexes--as does demerol, fentanyl and versed given in quantities that some GI docs request for 'sedation'. We get unexpected responses from our 'sedation' ...

It can be exhausting with people with difficult turns or Drs with less skill, FOR SURE! My boss and I even thought up a compression device, but it seems someone else patented our idea in 1997, but didn't do anything with it!! dang! I wonder if anyo...

We have 2.5 rooms (.5 is so small we only use it in a pinch!) and do 12-16 egd/colon per day except Tuesday morning when we are closed and only do 6-8 procedures in the PM. We only do 2-3 ERCPs a week and sometimes none. But there are lots of GI docs...

What is the theory behind putting in a rectal tube? That the pt can't pass the air naturally? How do you decide who gets one? I am incredulous that a healthy person would need (let alone tolerate) a rectal tube for a routine colonoscopy. Do you t...

I have to agree with the comments of MLL, If the GI doc routinely needs to have the nurse advance the scope, then they need some remedial training!! I would definitely check with my state nursing board about doing that. That just seems unsafe. It ...

Propofol (Diprivan) is an IV sedative-hypnotic. It is rapid acting and rapid clearing. Currently used almost exclusively by CRNAs and Anesthesiologists. Use is begining to expand to specially trained and supervised RNs. Illegal? Are you referring ...

Wow! Rectal Tubes????? That seems extreme!! I have had 3 colonoscopies by 2 different GI doctors and suites and I have never been placed in any position but supine. Who takes the rectal tube out? and when? Does the pt wake up with the tube still...

We are a teaching facility, so week days the Attending and fellow are on call. We do 1 weekend in 6 and have a standby oncall for ERCPs. Only RNs are on call and that call is 5pm Fri to 7am Monday.

There shouldn't be so much air left in the colon that it requires the patient to be contorted! Unless there is something obstructing the natural flow (tumor, stricture, etc) the pt should be able to expel any air naturally. However, if your are a te...

To me this is another reason to consider learning to administer propofol. The bottom line for the Drs IS $$$$$$. But if we can push the Anesthesologists grubby paws away (they are why some procedure areas CAN'T give propofol) we could do the GI do...

Holy Cow!! Have none of you guys taken ACLS? I would LOVE to be able to give Propofol. The patient wakes up in seconds. It has a half life of 1.8 minutes!!! I would rather bag a pt for 1.8 minutes than give an 85 y/o 85 lb lady 125mcg of fent an...

God, I would love to have MAC for ERCPs. Where are you that they are using anesthesia routinely? We still have to use Fent/demerol and Versed for those horribly loooooong ERCPs!! Our dept only has a tech for scopes. RNs do wires and sedation, whic...

The Endoscopy suite where I work highly disinfects the scopes. And our dilators are highly disinfected. Our forceps are sent to CS. The forceps ,if they are reusable, should be sterilized, as they come in contact with tissue and have significant p...