|
Gastroenterology (GI) nursing is a specialty practice area in which nurses and
associates provide care to patients with known or suspected gastrointestinal problems who
are undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic treatment and/or procedures. This care is
provided by Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses and unlicensed
associates (e.g., aides, assistants, technologists), and take place in a variety of
settings.
GI nurses and associates practice in physician offices, inpatient and outpatient
endoscopy departments, ambulatory endoscopy centers and inpatient hospital units. The
roles they perform depend upon education, licensure and experience, and ranges from
equipment and cleaning to performing screening procedures and case management.
GI nurses are licensed in their state of practice managing and generally have experience in
medical-surgical nursing prior to electing to specialize. Although nurses and associates
in endoscopy departments receive their specialty procedural training on-the-job from
preceptors and physician endoscopists, the body of knowledge required for GI nursing
practice is summarized in the text Gastroenterology
Nursing: A Core Curriculum.
Experienced GI Registered Nurses may choose to obtain national
certification in the specialty by satisfying specific practice requirements and
successfully completing a written examination based on the Core Curriculum, current
literature, practice standards, and other references. The American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses administers the examination and sets
the requirements for obtaining and maintaining certification. Certified Registered Nurses
earn the credential CGRN (Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse). There is not a certification exam for associates however you are able to earn recognition as a GTS (GI Technical Specialist) or an AGTS (Advanced GI Technical Specialist) by completing the SGNA Associates Program and Advanced Associates Program.
|