CaliLoveRN

Congrats! I started ICU a few months ago and plan to take it in about a year or so. Laura Gasparis is hilarious! I have her study guide, too. Enjoy your free time, now that the studying is over! Have you taken the TCAR course? If so, how was it? I plan on taking that next month. :)

I love working in Endoscopy! Most of our patients are relatively healthy, you always hear the latest "colonoscopy" jokes, and the doctors tend to be friendly and easy-going (if they weren't on call all weekend!). I think you will love it! If you are able to work at an ambulatory surgical center, you may only have to work Mon-Fri during daytime hours, and no holidays! If you weren't fabulous at starting IV's before, you will become VERY adept at IV's in no time! I do agree that patient turnaround time is critical, since a few delayed patients can back up the entire schedule---nothing like hungry, tired patients having to WAIT LONGER for their endoscopy! I would encourage you to ask questions about what kind of preps the docs use for their patients, and definitely review the forms the nurses use to ask the patient's assessment questions. Also, get a tour of the facility and become familiar with the locations of the supplies, meds, crash cart, etc....be enthusiastic yet professional, and I am sure you will be welcomed with open arms! Good Luck!! :)

I am so sorry you had a tough time with your procedure, but I am truly glad you went. You never know what the next polyp could become, especially after 10 years! I can assure you the nurses don't focus on that end of your body! While you are having your procedure performed, the RN is focusing on your vital signs, charting, and making sure you are comfortable. In pre/post op, again, the RN wants to make sure your are passing air, vitals remain stable, and you are discharged in good shape, no nausea, and well educated about your procedure/discharge instructions/findings, etc. Please follow up with your GI doc when they contact you again! Preventative care is cheaper and more comfortable than chemo!

I totally agree about the VC's! I would rather do a prep and if there's a polyp, have it removed during the procedure, not at my next colonoscopy appt with a repeat of a la PREP! We have several docs, most love MoviPrep, one prefers SuPrep and another uses Miralax (which the patients love!). Some patients just feel more of the medication effects than others (we use fent/versed for most patients). I had an EGD the same day as my husband, same amount of meds and he had nausea, I didn't. I felt fine (sleepy, but not nauseous) and my hubby felt sick all day!

Tech starting an IV line? Our tech's are not allowed to start IV's. They are strictly Endoscopy Technicians (setting up scopes, cleaning, etc.).

We always hang 1000ml LR unless the MD performs a flex sig. Our patients are relatively healthy ASA I, II and occasionally III's.