Switching Jobs

[JanetO]

Hello GI nurses. I'm an OR nurse with over 20 years of experience--including endoscopy. Our hospital is just in the process of opening up a GI lab--we presently do our scopes in the OR with anesthesia giving the sedation. I have applied for one of the 2 positions being presently offered. I'm a little tense about it because the only requirements now are to have experience with endoscopy and to be ACLS certified. Within 2 months of starting the job we will have to learn how to start IVs and to read EKGs and to do conscious sedation. I don't start IVs now and I know a little about the EKGS but am not proficient. We will be doing conscious sedation. I can't imagine doing scopes with an anesthetist not being there, but I guess it works. What are your experiences with all of this. I'm 49--maybe you can't teach an old dog new tricks!

[miz annie]

You are not too old to learn! I have a 67 year old nurse working in Endo and a 53 year old. So long as you watch the V/S esp pulse ox and watch the patient. It is easy to slap a little O2 on the patient if they start to desat. If you are already use to assisting with Endo's it should be a breeze. You may have to brush up on your IV skills and EKG monitor rhythms. Enjoy!!!!

[patsue53]

Hey Janet, who are you calling old!? :chuckle I'm 50 years old, I've worked in Endo for 8 years and held my CGRN for almost 5 years. Colons and Endos on healthy or slightly sick individuals don't require an anesthesiologist. A little sedation will do the trick and you can easily administer that. In our hospital you have to pass a conscious sedation test and be ACLS certified. Watch the O2 sats and blood pressure and don't let the docs hurry you when you're administering meds and you'll be just fine. I'm sure you must have learned to start IV's in nursing school...it's just a matter of brushing up on your skills...maybe you could spend a day admitting patients to outpatient surgery. That'll get your IV skills up to speed in no time. Good luck and enjoy! :)

[JanetO]

Thank-you to everyone that replied to my posting. Your encouragement is greatly appreciated!

[EndoRN]

So........did you get the job? How's it going???

Amy :)

[JanetO]

Well...after thinking about it for awhile, I decided not to apply for the job. I've worked in the OR for so long and have grown accustomed to doing a wide variety of cases. I thought that just doing endoscopy would not be stimulating enough for me personally. Plus I really didn't like the 10 hour shifts. I would go to work in the morning in the dark and come home in the dark. I just did not think it was for me. Thanks for your interest!