Endoscopy Nurse Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for an endoscopy nurse job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an endoscopy nurse. Feel free to use our endoscopy nurse job description template to produce your own endoscopy nurse job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an endoscopy nurse.
Who is an Endoscopy Nurse?
Endoscopy is the process of examining the bodily orifice, canal, or organ by utilizing an endoscope while a nurse is a healthcare professional who administers treatment and takes care of patients. An Endoscopy nurse is a health personnel who helps doctors with an endoscopic procedure. Their main duty includes observing patients’ vital signs, administering the proper patient medication, and answering patients’ questions. They achieve this by first assessing a patient’s health problem, executing nursing care plans, conducting medical tests to diagnose respiratory challenges, and maintaining accurate medical records. They also look into humans inside of the body by inserting a fiber-optic tube that resembles a camera; it is used to look into the intestine and bowels of a human being.
They do not work in isolation but work with doctors to discover the health challenges of patients and begin to treat the patient after diagnosis. An endoscopy nurse also provides medical care to patients such as those that are convalescent or those with disability. They also play a vital role in educating patients on how they can stay healthy.
The endoscopy nurse’s work environment is in the gastroenterology or endoscopy department of a medical facility or hospital. They are experts with extensive knowledge of the lower digestive tract. They also assist patients with issues such as ulcers, constipation, reflux, food allergies, diarrhea, and other illnesses that affect the gastroenterological and respiratory tract.
Endoscopy nurses are tasked with the responsibility of sedating patients before administering the necessary treatment to them. They need to have a compassionate heart to show love and care to patients throughout the procedure. They should showcase empathy to attend to their patient’s physical and emotional needs.
Endoscopy nurses diagnose conditions such as upper and lower digestive tract and respiratory organs. They may also patients with other conditions such as cancer, infections, ulcers, and bronchial. They may also acquire training in treating some common conditions such as Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and liver cirrhosis.
Being an endoscopy nurse may not be too stressful although this depends on the work environment of the endoscopy nurse. Endoscopy nurses that find themselves in a challenging and busy health facility may be stressed. They may need to deal with anxious patients and also perform other procedures on them. The job can also be stressful because nurses work regularly with patients, and families, and handle emergency procedures, and life-threatening conditions that can make them exhausted. Nurses usually work on regular shifts; there is nothing like weekends for nurses because their job responsibility demands them to come to the hospital even at weekends. The profession is highly demanding and a nurse should be ready to be called upon at any time of the day to perform a responsibility.
Differences between an Endoscopy Nurse and a Gastroenterology
Most people use the term interchangeably for a Registered nurse enrolling in an endoscopy practice but there are slight differences between the terms. The endoscopy specialty focuses on the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract while the gastroenterology focuses on the entire gastrointestinal system of the body. Nurses that acquire their master’s degree usually nurse practitioner specialty and gastroenterology certification and more in-depth training that goes beyond a gastrointestinal focus.
Endoscopy Nurse Job Description
What is an endoscopy nurse job description? an endoscopy nurse job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of an endoscopy nurse in an organization. Below are the endoscopy nurse job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an endoscopy nurse job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The following are the duties and responsibilities of an Endoscopy Nurse and they are:
- Administering tests to ascertain the source of the patient’s plan
- Notifying patients about their results and explaining the treatment plan
- Clarifying upcoming procedures to patients to answer all their questions
- Preparing instruments used during the procedure
- Assisting with patient sedation and monitoring their vital signs during the procedure
- Deciphering post-procedure instructions and discharge notes
- Supervising patients after sedation
- Updating of medical records
- Reacting quickly to emergencies
- Examining patient vital signs
- Recovering patients after the procedure
- Administering the necessary medication to patients
- Finalizing all the necessary documentation including patient notes and discharge documents
- Cleaning and sterilizing equipment before and after use
- Assisting doctors throughout the procedure
- Instructing patients on dietary needs for certain gastrointestinal illness
- Showing love and care to patients
Qualifications
- Nursing diploma or an associate degree
- Proven experience in caring for the patient
- Proficiency using endoscopic equipment
- Attention to detail
- Exceptional interpersonal skills
- Excellent and verbal communication
- Good organizational skills
- Empathy skills and time-management skills
- Ability to work under pressure
Essential Skills
The following are competent skills endoscopy nurses must have to have a successful career and they are:
- Analytical Skills: endoscopy nurses must possess this skill to examine an image from an endoscopic procedure carried out on a patient. They also need an analytical mind to ascertain what is happening to a patient and also give the requisite solution. Endoscopy nurses may not always diagnose patients themselves but they need a doctor to carry it out. They also need to know medical terminologies and practices to treat p
- Organization: Endoscopy nurse updates patients’ records and also maintain an accurate record of file they need to be organized to accomplish this task. They also keep track of medical tools that will be needed during a medical procedure. Organization skills are a core skill because endoscopy nurses will need this skill when carrying out paperwork and also to be able to check a patient’s medical history.
- Familiarity with Medical Terminologies: medical knowledge and comprehension are highly relevant to endoscopy nurses in their day-to-day activities. They need to know medical terms when performing any procedure such as advising patients, administering certain medications, and also when performing other responsibilities. Nurses need to how to effectively operate medical equipment and also answer the questions of patients.
- Communication: communication is a very important skill for endoscopy nurses to have because it can help them effectively interpret medical terminologies to patients, advise them on the kind of food they should eat, and also guide them in understanding directions from medical professionals. They also need to master the art of writing to be able to record patients’ details and also draft reports of serious medical conditions.
- Paying Attention to Detail: an endoscopy nurse must be very much focused when carrying out a procedure because he or she is dealing with the lives of human beings. They also need to pay keen attention to diagnosing a patient especially those with critical conditions. By closely inspecting images and utilizing their medical knowledge, endoscopy nurses can identify minute details and speed up a patient’s recovery and healing process.
- Team-work: Endoscopy nurses do not work in isolation; they work with other health personnel such as doctors and other health professionals when carrying out a procedure. They need to adapt to working with a team for them to contribute their quota to the team. There are cases where a doctor will diagnose a patient and the endoscopy nurse will give advice or take care of the patient.
- Empathy Skills: Endoscopy nurses must be highly compassionate towards patients for them to carry out their responsibilities successfully. They must develop a love for patients when taking care of them or administering treatment to them. After a patient’s treatment, the next thing is the recovery aspect. Endoscopy nurses help patients recover after their treatment. This can only be achieved if they show compassion, and love and also encourage the patient.
- Ability to Multi-Task: this is a requisite skill that endoscopy nurses must possess. Endoscopy nurses may switch between performing administrative functions and health functions. They should be able to carry out the both for them to have a successful career. For instance, while they are updating medical records; they can be called upon to diagnose a patient. It is highly paramount for them to know how to shuffle between the both.
- Time-management: Endoscopy nurses must be able to manage time judiciously when a task is assigned to them. For instance, if there is an emergency with a patient; they must respond promptly and ensure that the situation is salvage. They must never be lackadaisical about their responsibilities but work very hard to meet up with the deadline specified for them.
How to Become an Endoscopy Nurse
To become an endoscopy nurse, there are processes you must follow, and below are the processes:
- Enroll for a Degree
To become an endoscopy nurse, you should pursue a degree in nursing or enroll in a school of nursing to qualify. Most health care facilities candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or enroll in the school of nursing which takes two years to complete. A degree in nursing exposes candidates to information, terminologies, and skills associated with the nursing profession. The degree gives room for candidates to be licensed as nurses but nurses need to choose an area of specialization to practice. You can then as an endoscopy nurse.
- Become a Licensed Nurse
For one to become a licensed nurse, one needs to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). This exam often focuses on the processes and also knowledge nurse needs to have for them to discharge their duties successfully. Students often take the exams on the computer and answer the questions to show their knowledge of the nursing profession. Once they are done with the exams, those that pass the exams can proceed and apply for licensure and launch their nursing career.
- Get the Relevant Experience
Gaining relevant nursing experience is very important to specialize in a particular area of the profession. Getting this experience aids nurses to harness crucial technical skills and develop important knowledge that will enable them to perform their duties as expected. To become an endoscopy nurse, you must, first of all, have an experience as a nurse. It is also great for you to seek a customer service role during your undergraduate degree for you to be able to relate with patients effectively. Any job or position that demands customer interaction can help individuals to master the skills of interpersonal relationships with clients. This skill will help you to have an excellent career as an endoscopy nurse in the future.
- Acquire Certification
Although it is not mandatory to have a certification before you become an endoscopy nurse but it can be advantageous to be certified by the American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses (ABCGN). This certification mandates the individual to acquire seven years of working experience as a registered nurse. It is also mandatory for the candidate to pass the certification exams that usually consist of 175 questions. The questions can come in different forms; ranging from endoscopy nursing responsibilities to gastroenterological procedures. Once you have acquired your certification, registered nurses must retake the examination after every five years to maintain their credentials.
Where Can an Endoscopy Nurse Work?
An endoscopy nurse usually works in the health sector in such places:
- Hospitals: Endoscopy nurses usually work in the hospital to monitor vital signs, provide advice and information to patients, and observe and help patients with the recovery process. They usually work with doctors and other medical professionals.
- Gastroenterological Specialty Clinics: Endoscopy nurses work in this kind of place and they perform diagnostic and disease management functions. The responsibilities they perform are conducting cancer screening and helping patients manage conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- Endoscopy Laboratory Administration. They can work in an endoscopy laboratory found in the hospital or outside the hospital vicinity. Their responsibility in this environment is to oversee endoscopy team members or technicians. They are responsible for supervising equipment preparation, and disinfecting protocols, guaranteeing that team members follow the existed policies and procedures, and also ensuring the environment is kept clean at all times.
Endoscopy Nurse Salary
In the United States, an endoscopy nurse makes an annual salary of $80,175 and $41.12 per hour. Entry-level nurses start their career with a salary of $36,494 per year while experienced nurses make up to $127,999 per year. The salary may vary based on the geographical location of the endoscopy nurse.
In the United Kingdom, an endoscopy nurse makes an annual salary of 32,823 pounds and an hourly salary of 16.83 pounds. Entry-level nurses start their career by earning 28,361 pounds per year while experienced nurses up to 49,961 per year.
