EndoNurse Articles

A Special Place to Work

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:16:00 PDT

The endoscopy unit at Southern Maine Medical Center (SMMC) is a special place to work. With the help of five RNs and four endo techs, more than 4,000 patients each year are moved through our department with smooth, caring grace. Since we have nine physicians, our team has had to ...(675 words)

Change Your Management Mindset so You Can Climb the Chain

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:33:35 PDT

Whether you’re in a new leadership position due to a promotion or being newly hired, you may have to learn to think in a new way. To be successful, you need to shift your mindset so you can focus on the new requirements and outcomes you’re being held accountable for. ...(1301 words)

Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Beware the Rib Fest

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:51:00 PDT

It’s 2 a.m., the night is calm and you’re resting comfortably. Unfortunately, you’re on call. The pager lies quietly on your nightstand, coiled, waiting to strike like a serpent in the grass. The pager’s sinister rattle awakens you. It’s the ER calling to inform you of your archnemesis: food impaction. ...(1316 words)

Use Teamwork to Meet Staff Challenges

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:57:32 PDT

No matter where you work these days, chances are your workplace is facing challenges: increasing competition, lower profits, high turnover, etc. So what makes one facility’s able to rebound and recover in the midst of adversity while others throw in the towel and give up? It all depends on the ability ...(1215 words)

State-of-the-Art Facility Assists Gem of a Staff

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:23:00 PDT

Byrne Medical Inc., salutes the staff members of the endoscopy department at The Digestive Health Center at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa., for their hard work and commitment to exemplary patient care. The team will receive a commemorative plaque in celebration of their EndoNurse All-Star recognition.The Digestive Health ...(730 words)

Small Team Helps Small Patients

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:31:00 PDT

Pete Prescott, RN, and Terry Willis, RN, understand that dealing with pediatric patients requires a lighter attitude. But that doesn’t mean that Prescott and Willis see their jobs as a laughing matter. Indeed, Prescott and Willis are consummate professionals. The two work at University of South Alabama Children’s Women’s ...(764 words)

Expanding the Nurse's Role in Small-Bowel Capsule Endoscopy

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:43:00 PDT

Introduced in 2001, capsule endoscopy (CE) is a non-invasive, wireless endoscopic technique in which a patient ingests a vitamin-sized capsule containing a miniature camera and light source. Proprietary software is then used to create a video of the small bowel to detect diseases such as obscure GI bleeding, Crohn’s disease, ...(1083 words)

Endoscopic Clipping: Evolution of Use

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:02:00 PDT

The metallic endoscopic clip was originally developed for achieving hemostasis of gastrointestinal bleeding. Introduced approximately 30 years ago, its extensive use was hindered by poor design, deployment difficulty and low clip-retention rates (Shin et al.). But with significant design improvement, clips have evolved into an invaluable instrument for numerous GI ...(1242 words)

Heads or Tails? Are IBS Patient Claims Legitimate?

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:48:00 PDT

Ever meet patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who seem to have a slew of other illnesses along with it? According to the Overlapping Conditions Alliance (OCA), millions of Americans suffer from coexisting or “overlapping” disorders, none of which is clearly understood, easily diagnosed or treated. Most have no cure. ...(1158 words)

Safe Use of Electrocautery in Patients With Implanted Cardiac Devices

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:33:00 PDT

As technology advances, so does the number of implanted cardiac devices. Today more patients than ever will come into the endoscopy lab with an implanted device. The use of cardiac devices has expanded from the original pacemaker and the implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to new devices that can help the chambers ...(1792 words)