Endoscopy nurses play an essential role in endoscopic procedures—minimally invasive medical and surgical procedures which help physicians assess and diagnose gastroenterological and respiratory disorders in patients.
If you’re considering becoming an endoscopy nurse, this blog post will brief you on the skills and characteristics that are key to the role as well as provide tips for new endoscopy nurses and a list of resources to support you as you learn about this nursing specialty.
Important Skills and Characteristics of Endoscopy Nurses
While many of the skills endoscopy nurses use on a day-to-day basis are soft skills that are essential for all nurses to have, others are unique to this nursing specialty. Some top skills and characteristics which will make you a great endoscopy nurse are the following:
- Being a team player. According to Nursing Uncharted, this is the number one characteristic that an endoscopy nurse should have. Since this role is highly collaborative, as you’ll be working very closely with other members of the procedure team, being able to work well with others and share responsibilities is key.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. As an endoscopy nurse, you’ll act as the liaison for patients, families, physicians, and other healthcare personnel, which is why your communication skills need to be exceptionally strong.
- Written communication skills will aid you in taking effective notes of patients’ medical records and release forms.
- Verbal communication skills are essential to convey important medical information and advice to patients, as well as to understand and implement instructions from physicians.
- Analysis. Endoscopy nurses work with physicians to examine endoscopic images, identify and understand the cause of patient discomfort or pain and assist with interpreting findings to diagnose patient conditions.
- Attention to detail. Endoscopy nursing requires nurses to pay close attention to the details of endoscopic images, patient records, treatment plans, and medical histories to help physicians make accurate diagnoses of a patient’s condition and alert them of any potential risks or complications.
- Patience and empathy. Endoscopy patients are often nervous about their procedures, so nurses need to communicate with empathy, explaining and answering questions to make the patients feel comfortable and safe.
- Technical/medical endoscopy skills. The primary responsibilities of an endoscopy nurse include checking vitals, IV therapy, and operating instruments, including endoscopes and suction devices. Nurses must be proficient in these skills, but rest assured; you’ll receive training on how to operate and troubleshoot any machines and other tools involved.
Tips for New Endoscopy Nurses
If you’re new to endoscopy nursing, here are some sage tips from experienced endoscopy nurses:
- “Always, always change your gloves between patients. Besides the obvious cross-contamination issue, the last thing you want is a patient that noticed you did not change your gloves and complains.” — u/Miss Chrissy, All Nurses
- “Obtain a set of vital/assess the patient and ensure they are stable immediately after the procedure.” — u/Miss Chrissy, All Nurses
- “Try your best not to leave your patient unattended in the recovery area until they are awake and at least relatively alert.” — u/Miss Chrissy, All Nurses
- “Do not be intimidated by your peers and seniors, you will be working closely with senior physicians and you are both there to help each other succeed - Nursing Uncharted Podcast
- “The job requires a lot of self-learning. It is always better to ask... Take advantage of every learning opportunity... It will take a little bit of time to get acquainted with your new work environment so don’t be too hard on yourself... We are all still learning.” – Teresita Foliacci, MSN RN CGRN, The Inside Track
Resources for Endoscopy Nurses
As experienced nurses indicate, there will be aspects of endoscopy nursing that you won’t know about and tasks you may not feel confident doing until you’re well into the job. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek out resources to learn more. The following resources will be helpful to you as you learn about endoscopy nursing:
- Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates
- Manual of Gastrointestinal Procedures
- Gastroenterology Nursing: A Core Curriculum
- American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses
- American Gastroenterological Association
- North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
In addition to these online resources, seek support in person. Consider asking a more experienced endoscopy nurse if they will be a mentor to you—even informally—by answering questions and sharing their experiences.
In addition, you can seek to connect with other endoscopy nurses through online forums such as the nursing subreddit on Reddit, Facebook groups, or Nursa’s online community, where you can connect with and learn from nurses across the country.
Final Thoughts | What Makes a Good Endoscopy Nurse
For more information on endoscopy nursing, check out Nursa’s ultimate guide on endoscopy nursing, which covers everything you need to know about this specialty, including questions such as these: How much does an endoscopy nurse make? Is endoscopy nursing hard? What is the role of an endoscopy nurse? If endoscopy isn’t the right specialty for you, there is no shortage of nursing specialties you can choose from. Refer to Nursa’s complete nursing guides to learn about the educational requirements, average salaries, and other essential information on dozens of nursing specialties.
