Schedule

2027 Schedule

 

All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET), and this schedule is subject to change.

Hands-on ERCP

7:30 AM - 1:00 PM

At the end of this 6-hour intensive hands-on course, the participants will possess knowledge and skills necessary for ERCP.

Regional Leadership Meeting

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

The SGNA Regional Leadership Session is a program designed to offer essential tools and tips on leadership to new and potential regional leaders, as well as a chance for existing regional leaders to further invest in their leadership skills.

CGRN Exam Essentials

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 

Celebrate your voice and your career path through GI Certification. Attend SGNA’s CGRN Exam Essentials Pre-Conference Workshop to prepare for the CGRN Certification Exam. During this course, certified faculty will provide you with an extensive overview of gastrointestinal anatomy, disease processes, interventions, management, and nursing care. This is the ultimate preparation course. Don’t miss out; registration is limited!

SGNA Reprocessing Training: A Comprehensive Review of Endoscope Reprocessing

1:15 PM - 5:15 PM

This course is for the nurse or technician in the GI setting who is responsible for ensuring that the cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes is done safely and effectively. The session will offer hands-on opportunities to practice the reprocessing steps.

 

All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET), and this schedule is subject to change.

General Session

"How Can You Laugh at That?" A Closer Look at the Use of Humor in Nursing

8:45 AM - 10:15 AM | Speaker: Terry Foster

Concurrent Sessions

IBD

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Speaker: Thomas Maust

You Make the Call: GI Nutrition Case Challenges

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Speaker: Paula Gallagher, MFN, RD, LD

Nutrition questions come up every day in GI practice, but it isn't always clear when basic counseling is enough and when a patient should be referred to a registered dietitian. Through interactive case studies and audience polling, this session will walk participants through common GI scenarios and provide practical guidance on nutrition interventions, referrals, and patient education they can use in everyday practice.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Recognize nutrition related concerns commonly encountered in GI practice.

  • Select evidence based nutrition interventions appropriate for common GI conditions.

  • Apply practical nutrition strategies to improve patient education and interdisciplinary care.

“A REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE” Accreditation Readiness in the Endoscopy Unit

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Speaker: James Collins, BS, RN, CNOR

Attending this program can significantly improve your unit’s readiness, confidence, and compliance during your accreditation survey. This program is designed to enhance your knowledge of common survey observations to enable the harvesting of low hanging fruit before your survey, assisting you to meet the expectations of accreditation bodies.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Identification of common findings observed during accreditation / compliance surveys in the endoscopy unit.

  • Listing behaviors demonstrated to maintain survey readiness.

  • Coordinating with Facility Leadership to achieve and maintain accreditation readiness.

To Infinity & Beyond: The Innovative Era of Robotic Bronchoscopy and Nursing and Technician Responsibilities

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Speakers: Kristina Matos, MSN, RN, CGRN; Molly Moore, BSN, RN, CNOR; Aliah Cunningham

In the ever-evolving landscape of medical technology, robotic bronchoscopy has emerged as a groundbreaking advancement, revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the background and history of robotic bronchoscopies, tracing their development from traditional methods to the sophisticated, minimally invasive procedures utilized today. Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of the specialized equipment, medications, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care and responsibilities.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Apply best practices in pre, intra, and postoperative care for robotic bronchoscopy patients.

  • Describe the roles and responsibilities of the nurse and technician in robotic bronchoscopy.

  • Recognize and address potential complications associated with robotic bronchoscopy.

Concurrent Sessions

Beyond Hot Flashes: Menopause, Hormone Therapy, and the Gastrointestinal Tract—What Every GI Nurse Should Know

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Speaker: Brooke Spencer, MSN, APRN, FNP-C 

Menopause brings significant hormonal changes that can influence gastrointestinal function, liver health, and common digestive symptoms, yet these connections are often unrecognized in clinical practice. This presentation will explore the impact of menopause on the GI tract, review current evidence on hormone replacement therapy and digestive health, and provide practical, evidence-based strategies that GI nurses can apply to improve patient assessment, education, and care.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Participants will be able to identify the risks of alcohol & liver damage.

  • Participants will be able to develop a practical understanding & approach to patients seeking treatment for live damage.

  • Participants will be able to engage in nonjudgmental conversations with patients seeking help for liver disease.

Oral Poster Session

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM 

Parkinson's Disease & Gastrointestinal Manifestations

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Speaker: Leah Gordon, DNP, APRN, CRNA 

Parkinson's disease presents unique challenges throughout the perioperative period, particularly during gastrointestinal procedures where dysphagia, gastroparesis, autonomic dysfunction, and medication timing can significantly influence patient safety. This presentation reviews the latest evidence and provides practical strategies for recognizing and managing these challenges to optimize outcomes for patients with Parkinson's disease undergoing GI procedures.

Learning Objectives: 

  • At the end of this presentation, the learner will be able to Recognize crucial upper and lower gastrointestinal manifestations linked to early and advanced Parkinson’s disease.

  • At the end of this presentation, the learner will be able to Explain the gut-brain axis and the pathways of pathologic progression within the enteric nervous system.

  • At the end of the presentation the learner will be able to Apply localized, multidisciplinary management strategies to relieve GI distress and enhance patient experience while undergoing anesthesia.

A New Approach to Endoscopy Sedation: Remimazolam

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Speakers: Emily Salisbury, MSN, RN, CGRN; Sephra Kerner, BSN, RN, CGRN

Learn how nursing, anesthesia, pharmacy, and physician teams partnered to solve a system-wide sedation challenge through multidisciplinary collaboration, comprehensive staff education, and innovative practice change. This presentation highlights the successful adoption of Remimazolam sedation across multiple endoscopy centers and shares key lessons learned in preserving patient access, optimizing anesthesia resources, and maintaining high-quality outcomes throughout a significant practice transformation.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Describe the operational and clinical challenges associated with transitioning away from nurse-administered propofol sedation in endoscopy settings.

  • Identify key multidisciplinary strategies used to implement a systemwide sedation practice change across multiple endoscopy centers.

  • Evaluate Remimazolam as an alternative nurse-administered sedation agent for adult patients undergoing endoscopic procedures.

  • Discuss the education, competency validation, and clinical support processes required to safely adopt a new sedation protocol.

  • Analyze the impact of transitioning to nurse-administered Remimazolam sedation on patient outcomes, procedural access, and anesthesia resource utilization.

Concurrent Sessions

Practice Guideline Primer

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

Evidence to Excellence: Article Highlights from Gastroenterology Nursing Journal

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM 

General Session

Esophageal Cancer: What are the latest treatment modalities

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Speaker: John C. Lipham, MD

Esophageal Cancer is the 11th most commonly diagnosed cancer and the 7th most common cause of cancer death world wide, but yet is diagnosed late in most patients.  Although some patients with localized disease can be treated endoscopically, the treatment for esophageal cancer can cause significant morbidity with poor prognosis. This lecture will explore the latest treatment modalities available to our patient population.

Learning Objectives: 

  • The participant will be able to enumerate the latest research being done on esophageal cancer.

  • The participant will be able to enumerate the classic signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer.

  • The participant will be able to appreciate the treatments for and the current screening methods for esophageal cancer.

Exhibit Hall Reception

4:30 PM - 6:45 PM 

All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET), and this schedule is subject to change.

General Session

Gastric Cancer:  From Silent Signs to Saving Lives

8:15 AM - 9:30 AM | Speaker: Nikolai A. Bildzukewicz, MD FACS 

Come explore the rapidly evolving landscape of gastric cancer care, from current medical therapies and precision-guided treatments to advances in minimally invasive and robotic surgery.  This session will highlight how emerging systemic therapies, novel biomarkers, and innovative surgical approaches are reshaping treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.  Looking ahead, we’ll examine the promising technologies and therapies poised to define the future of personalized care for gastric cancer patients.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the current epidemiology, staging principles, and multidisciplinary approach to the management of gastric cancer.

  • Review contemporary systemic treatment strategies for localized, locally advanced, and metastatic gastric cancer, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies.

  • Explain the clinical relevance of key biomarkers in guiding personalized treatment selection.

  • Discuss current surgical principles for gastric cancer, including indications for gastrectomy, extent of lymphadenectomy, minimally invasive and robotic approaches, and perioperative considerations.

  • Identify promising future developments in gastric cancer treatment.

Concurrent Sessions

IBD and Celiac in Pediatric Patients

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM  | Speaker: Dr Sundeep Arora 

This session will provide an in depth, clinically focused review of inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease in pediatric patients. Content will highlight key diagnostic criteria, common and atypical presentations, evidence based management strategies, nutritional considerations, and the role of endoscopy in evaluation and longitudinal care. Emphasis will be placed on practical, bedside applicable guidance for nurses caring for children with chronic GI conditions, including communication strategies, monitoring, and family education.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize hallmark and atypical clinical features of pediatric IBD and celiac disease.

  • Outline current diagnostic pathways, including laboratory testing, imaging, and endoscopic evaluation.

  • Describe evidence based treatment approaches and the role of multidisciplinary care.

  • Identify nutritional and growth related challenges common in pediatric GI disease.

  • Apply practical nursing strategies to enhance patient education, symptom tracking, and family engagement.

Ready to Respond: A GI Perforation Management Protocol for the Endoscopy Team

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM  | Speaker: Grace Pelayo

Discover how implementing an evidence-based gastrointestinal perforation management protocol improved the preparedness of nurses and endoscopy technicians through didactic education and simulation-based training. This session highlights practical tools for standardizing emergency response, enhancing multidisciplinary communication, and promoting safer outcomes during advanced endoscopic procedures.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify key risk factors, early clinical indicators, and signs of iatrogenic gastrointestinal perforation during endoscopic procedures to support timely recognition and intervention.

  • Describe the essential components of a standardized GI perforation management protocol, including immediate response measures, communication pathways, and the roles of nurses and endoscopy technicians during a perforation event.

  • Apply evidence-based management strategies through simulation-based training to enhance multidisciplinary teamwork, communication, and preparedness in responding to suspected endoscopic perforations.

EoE

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM  | Peter Buch

Ready Before They Arrive: Lessons from Endoscopy Regulatory Surveys

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM  | Speaker: Lisa Heard, DNP, RN, CGRN, CPHQ, CPPS

Endoscopy teams face increasing regulatory expectations while balancing patient safety, complex technology, infection prevention, and high-volume procedural care. Through real-world case studies, surveyor insights, and interactive mock tracer discussions, this session provides practical strategies to help GI nurses and leaders strengthen everyday readiness, not just prepare for the next survey. Attendees will leave with insights to improve compliance, close reliability gaps, and build a culture of safe, survey-ready care for every patient, every procedure, every day.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe current regulatory priorities influencing endoscopy survey readiness.

  • Identify the most common survey findings in GI procedural areas.

  • Apply practical strategies to improve regulatory readiness within endoscopy units.

Concurrent Sessions

Expanding Nursing Skills = Satisfied Nurses and Efficient Workflows

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM  | Speakers: Jesusa Sonon, MBA-HA, BSN, RN, AMB-BC; Antonette Esguerra, MSN, BSN, BA, RN, NE-BC, CNOR

Investing in cross-training empowers endoscopy nurses with the skills needed to safely and confidently perform pre-procedure assessments and patient preparation.  This initiative strengthens staffing resilience, improves workflow efficiency, reduces overtime costs, and promotes a seamless patient experience while supporting employee engagement and satisfaction.

Learning Objectives:

  • Demonstrate Competency in Pre-Procedure Nursing Care:  By the end of training, endoscopy nurses will independently complete all required pre-procedure nursing duties, including patient assessment, medication reconciliation, documentation, and patient education, in accordance with department policies and standards.

  • Perform Safe and Accurate Patient Assessments:  Endoscopy nurses will accurately conduct and document pre-procedure patient assessments, identifying potential risks and escalating concerns appropriately in 100% of observed competency evaluations.

  • Provide Effective Patient Communication and Care Coordination:  Nurses will demonstrate the ability to communicate procedural instructions, answer patient questions, and coordinate care effectively to support a positive patient experience and timely procedure readiness.

  • Apply Cross-Training Skills to Support Staffing Needs:  Following training, nurses will safely provide pre-procedure coverage during periods of increased patient volume, staff absences, or emergency situations while maintaining quality and safety standards.

  • Contribute to Operational Efficiency and Team Effectiveness:  Nurses will utilize cross-trained skills to support equitable workload distribution, improve departmental flexibility, and reduce reliance on overtime staffing while maintaining high-quality patient care.

Manometry Beyond Basics - Case Studies

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM  | Speakers: Kimberly Venturella, BSN, RN, DIPL, CGRN

Up and Down the GI Track;  What’s New

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM  | Speakers: Peter Buch

Building Your Career Capital: Connecting with Purpose, Creating Opportunities for Growth

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM  | Speakers: Lisa Heard, DNP, RN, CGRN, CPHQ, CPPS; Cynthia Friis, MEd, BSN, RN, NPD-BC

Career advancement is built through intentional experiences, meaningful relationships, and the confidence others develop in your readiness to lead. In this interactive session, participants will explore how to build career capital by expanding skills, strengthening professional connections, increasing visibility, and engaging in opportunities that support growth. Participants will leave with a personalized roadmap of ideas aligned with their own goals, strengths, and development needs.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define career capital and explain its role in professional growth.

  • Identify intentional experiences that enhance skills, visibility, credibility, and leadership readiness.

  • Recognize how mentors, sponsors, colleagues, and professional networks contribute to long-term career success.

  • Begin a personalized roadmap for building their career capital based on individual goals, strengths, and development needs.

Concurrent Sessions

Reflux Reimagined:  What’s Here, What’s Next, and What’s Changing?

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM  | Speaker: Nikolai A. Bildzukewicz, MD, FACS

Come explore the evolving landscape of medical and surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), from optimized acid suppression and emerging pharmacologic therapies to the latest advances in minimally invasive and robotic procedures.  This session will highlight current evidence, evolving technologies, and strategies for selecting the right treatment for the right patient.  Discover what the future holds for personalized GERD care—and how these innovations may reshape the way we treat reflux disease.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the current classification and epidemiology of GERD.

  • Discuss the current challenges in treating patients with GERD.

  • Explain the role of medical therapy in treating GERD patients.

  • Examine the current data on available endoscopic and surgical therapies for GERD.

  • Explore the evolving diagnostic and treatment options for GERD.

From Texas to the World: Transforming Endoscopy Technician Recognition Through Advocacy, Policy, and Practice

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM  | Speakers: Junabelle Gamble, DNP; Hazel Pere, z MSN(c), BSN-RN, CGRN

Endoscopy technicians are essential members of the gastroenterology team, yet professional recognition and career development opportunities remain limited. This session shares a five-year evidence-based practice initiative that grew from a local recognition effort into the state-recognized Texas Endoscopy Technicians Week and expanded nationally and internationally. Learn how advocacy, policy-supported recognition, interdisciplinary engagement, and professional development strengthened professional identity, workforce engagement, and retention—and how this scalable model can be adapted within other endoscopy settings.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the role of policy-supported recognition initiatives in strengthening professional identity, workforce engagement, and retention among endoscopy technicians.

  • Evaluate the impact of advocacy, recognition programming, and professional development strategies on interdisciplinary collaboration and workforce stability within endoscopy settings.

  • Apply a scalable framework for implementing recognition and workforce development initiatives that support recruitment, retention, and professional growth in gastroenterology and endoscopy teams.

I'm Just A Pill-Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM  | Speaker: Roy Roberts, ADN, CGRN

Connected in Purpose, Inspired by Innovation: Practical AI Solutions for the Modern GI Nurse

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM  | Speaker: Corey Hollmann, RN, CNOR, MSN, MBA-HCA

Discover how artificial intelligence and workflow automation are transforming gastroenterology nursing by reducing administrative burden and creating more time for direct patient care. Through practical, real-world examples, attendees will learn how AI can enhance documentation, scheduling, pre-admission testing, patient education, quality dashboards, and staffing while preserving the clinical judgment and compassionate care that remain at the heart of GI nursing. This session provides actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately across hospital, ambulatory surgery center, and office-based endoscopy settings.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify practical opportunities to incorporate artificial intelligence and workflow automation into gastroenterology nursing practice to reduce administrative burden and improve operational efficiency.

  • Describe evidence-based strategies for implementing AI-assisted documentation, patient communication, scheduling, and pre-admission workflows while maintaining patient safety, regulatory compliance, and staff engagement.

  • Apply electronic quality dashboards and predictive staffing models to support quality improvement initiatives, optimize workforce planning, and enhance patient outcomes across a variety of gastroenterology practice settings.

Concurrent Sessions

Removing Operational Barriers to CGRN Certification: A Sustainable Workforce Development Model

4:45 PM - 5:15 PM  | Speakers: Beki Kazanofski, ANO, DNP, RN, CNOR, NE-BC; Ann Benco, MS, BSN, RN, CNOR

Specialty certification strengthens clinical expertise, but operational and financial barriers can limit participation. This session highlights a practical workforce development model that increased access to CGRN certification resources and created a sustainable framework for ongoing professional advancement.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify educational, financial, and operational barriers that may limit specialty nursing certification within healthcare organizations.

  • Describe strategies used to develop a sustainable certification support model, including stakeholder engagement, resource management, and standardized processes.

  • Apply key elements of the certification pathway framework to support workforce development, professional growth, and specialty certification within their own practice setting.

Addressing the Endoscopy Technician Training and Retention Issue in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area: A Journey to Solutions

4:45 PM - 5:15 PM  | Speaker: Angelita Hamill, BSN, RN, CGRN

This session will go through the background and steps to establish an Endoscopy Technician program in the DFW area. The speaker will detail the process and timeline used to accomplish establishing this program in partnership with many stakeholders in the Dallas area.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the role of the endoscopy technician and its evolution over the years.

  • Outline the steps taken to identify and engage stakeholders in the development of an Endoscopy Technician education program.

  • Describe the development of the curriculum and procurement of equipment needed for the program.

  • Identify lessons learned through the process and measure program success.

How to submit a poster

4:45 PM - 5:15 PM  | Speaker: Jay Lardizabal, MSN, MAN, APRN,FNP-C, CGRN

This session will go through the background and steps to establish an Endoscopy Technician program in the DFW area. The speaker will detail the process and timeline used to accomplish establishing this program in partnership with many stakeholders in the Dallas area.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the role of the endoscopy technician and its evolution over the years.

  • Outline the steps taken to identify and engage stakeholders in the development of an Endoscopy Technician education program.

  • Describe the development of the curriculum and procurement of equipment needed for the program.

  • Identify lessons learned through the process and measure program success.

General Session

Staff/Healthcare professional Burnout

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM  | Speaker: Leah Gordon

SGNA Celebration

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM 

All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET), and this schedule is subject to change.

Concurrent Sessions

Improving Inpatient Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation Through Nursing Collaboration and Patient-Centered Education: An Evidence-Based Practice Initiative

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | Speakers: Rebecca Crim, BSN, RN, CGRN; Ruth Peeler, BSN, RN, CMSRN, CGRN

Inadequate bowel preparation remains a significant barrier to successful inpatient colonoscopy, impacting patient outcomes, procedure quality, and healthcare costs. This session will present an evidence-based, nursing-driven quality improvement initiative that uses patient-centered education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and standardized interventions to improve bowel preparation adherence and colonoscopy outcomes for hospitalized Veterans. Participants will gain practical strategies that can be adapted to improve inpatient bowel preparation processes across a variety of clinical practice settings.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Identify common patient and system barriers contributing to inadequate inpatient colonoscopy bowel preparation.

  • Describe evidence-based, nursing-driven interventions that improve bowel preparation quality and patient adherence.

  • Evaluate strategies for implementing interdisciplinary collaboration to improve inpatient colonoscopy outcomes and patient satisfaction.

The WRITE Project

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | Speakers: Kathy Baker and Rhoda Redulla

Emergency Preparedness and Procedure Room Setup for the Endoscopy Technicians: Best Practices for Patient Safety.

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | Speaker: Damien Carter

The Importance of the Endoscopy technician During a code.The correct way to set your room up and knowing your equipment .Knowing how to assets during the emergency situation.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Describe the Endoscopy Technicians’s Role in emergency preparedness.

  • Perform a complete pre-procedure room for safety and equipment inspection.

  • Prepare procedure rooms for routine and high-risk endoscopic procedures.

  • Recognize any signs of patient deterioration during endoscopy.

  • Assist the health care team during emergencies situations Demonstrate effective communication using emergency response protocols.

General Session

Alcohol Associated Liver Disease: Recognizing Risk & Improving Care

9:00 AM - 10:15 AM | Speaker: Brian Lee, MD

This lecture will focus on the effects of alcohol & the clinical signs & symptoms every nurse should focus on. Nurses will come away with practical assessment skills in dealing with patients dealing with the effects of alcohol.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Participants will be able to identify the risks of alcohol & liver damage.

  • Participants will be able to develop a practical understanding & approach to patients seeking treatment for live damage.

  • Participants will be able to engage in nonjudgmental conversations with patients seeking help for liver disease.

Concurrent Sessions

ERCP Innovation: Emerging Technologies and Strategies for Safer Outcomes

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Speakers: Shilpa Lingala, MD; Marcelo Melo, MSN, RN, CGRN, CNOR, LSSGB

Join us for an advanced educational session that bridges cutting-edge ERCP innovations—including AI-assisted endoscopy and digital cholangioscopy—with practical, evidence-based nursing strategies. Discover how a successful, nurse-led quality improvement initiative at Sutter Roseville Medical Center effectively reduced post-ERCP pancreatitis through standardized protocols and interdisciplinary collaboration. Equip yourself with transferable, high-impact techniques to enhance patient safety, optimize clinical outcomes, and elevate care within your own endoscopy unit.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Describe current ERCP trends and innovations.

  • Discuss the impact of advanced technologies on clinical practice.

  • Identify evidence-based strategies to reduce PEP.

  • Apply interdisciplinary and quality improvement approaches to enhance safety and clinical outcomes.

From Blueprint to Bedside: Launching Endoscopy Services in a New Ambulatory Surgery Center

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Speakers: Rachel Cipolli, RN, BSN, MSN; Kristina Matos, RN, MSN, CGRN; Ellie Jun, DNP, RN, CCRN

Launching the endoscopy service required significant effort and extensive program development behind the scenes.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Identify key stakeholders and resources needed to launch endoscopy services in a new ambulatory surgery center.

  • Describe strategies for building upon operating room experience when preparing staff members for endoscopy-specific roles and responsibilities.

  • Discuss methods for multidisciplinary workflow development and room readiness.

  • Explain how hands-on education, competency validation, and cross-campus support can improve staff preparedness during implementation.

  • Apply lessons learned from a multidisciplinary implementation process when planning endoscopy services in another perioperative setting.

From Biofilm to Borescopes: What’s Next in Infection Prevention and Control for the GI Nurse

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Speaker: Hudson Garrett

Endoscope-associated infections remain among the most persistent and preventable harms in gastroenterology, and this session examines the emerging issues reshaping infection prevention in the GI setting, from biofilm and resistant pathogens to water management, medical device safety, borescope inspection, and advances in human factors engineering that explain why well-trained staff still make predictable errors with complex devices. Attendees will leave with a practical, evidence-based framework for identifying gaps in their own units and implementing interventions that measurably strengthen patient safety.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Analyze the mechanisms by which residual soil, biofilm, and reprocessing breakdowns contribute to endoscope-associated transmission of emerging pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Candida auris.

  • Evaluate emerging technologies and practices such as borescope inspection, cleaning verification, enhanced drying and storage, water quality management, and single-use endoscopes against current ANSI/AAMI ST91, SGNA, and CDC guidance to determine their value and limitations in the GI setting.

  • Design a unit-level action plan that integrates at least three evidence-based infection prevention interventions into GI nursing practice and defines the metrics used to monitor their effectiveness. 

Concurrent Sessions

Infection Prevention as a team sport

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM | Speaker: Susan Overhoff

Diagnosis: Pancreatic Disease, Prognosis:  Fearing the Worse, Hoping for the Best

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM | Speaker: Beth Hogan

Concurrent Sessions

Clinical updates in Colorectal Cancer

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Speaker: Cathleen Shellnutt, DNP, APRN, AGCNS-BC, CGRN

This session will review new updates in colon cancer screening, treatment, and surveillance. Case studies will also be presented.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Describe the anatomy and physiology of the colon.

  • Compare colon cancer screening methods.

  • Discuss risk factors and diagnosis of colon cancer, including tumor staging.

  • Examine new treatment guidelines for dMMR/MSI-H colon and rectal cancer.

  • Summarize colon cancer surveillance methods.

ABCGN

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM 

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