  
PATIENT
CARE UNIT:
Scope of Service:
The Endoscopy Unit
is a tertiary referral center which provides treatment and supportive nursing
care to adult and pediatric inpatients and outpatient with gastroenterology
conditions requiring diagnostic/therapeutic invasive and non-invasive
intervention. The Endoscopy Unit also provides treatment for patients requiring
pulmonary diagnostic procedures and minor renal tract investigations.
Frequent
Procedures/Services/Functions
·
Upper
G.I Endoscopy
·
Colonoscopy
·
Motility, manometry, and pH studies
·
Esophageal dilatation
·
Esophageal banding and sclerotherapy
·
Esophageal stent placement
·
Endoscopic ultrasound
·
ERCP
- diagnostic
·
ERCP
with sphincterotomy and stent placement
·
Urodynamic and uroflow studies
Hours of Operation
5 days per week -
Saturday – Tuesday 0730 – 1800 hr
Wednesday 0730 – 1700 hr
CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION TO
SERVICE
Patients who are admitted to
the Endoscopy Unit include adult inpatients and outpatients under the care of
the GI, Pulmonary and Urology consultant or referred to these specialists by
other physician services.
Patients must be clinically
stable, evaluated under ASA classification, not requiring an intensive level of
nursing care and not in need of care which would be provided in an ICU.
Critical care patients shall have procedures performed at the bedside and
recovered by Critical Care nursing staff. Pediatric patients under 5 years have
all endoscopic procedures attended to in the Operating Room under general
anaesthesia.
STAFFING PLAN
Number and Mix of Staff
Total FTE’s
HN
1
SNI
9
SN11
3
SN111
1
Urology
Technician 1
In the Endoscopy Unit,
patient care is provided by SNIs and SNIIs. Support staff include endoscopy
equipment technicians who are responsible for the cleaning and high level
disinfection of all the endoscopy equipment and accessories. Procedures are
performed by gastroenterologists who have recognized and specific training in
Endoscopy. Also included are fellows who perform under the supervision of the
attending physician.
The Team Leader assigns staff
on a daily basis to work either in the procedure rooms, the wash room or
portable procedures to other areas in the hospital.
Procedures in which the
patient receives sedation, shall have a second assistant in attendance to
continuously monitor the patient.
Staffing for a non-sedated
procedure is based on the severity of the patient’s medical condition and/or the
complex technical requirements associated with the procedure.
The Endoscopy Unit is staffed
by SNIs and SNIIs who function in the pre-procedure preparation area, procedure
rooms and post-procedure recovery area. Monitoring standards for patients
pre-and post-procedure are based on the Conscious Sedation policy.
Method of Adjusting to
Staffing Variances
Plan for projected
staffing needs of the shift is done at least one day in advance by the HN based
on the amount of cases and their specific needs.
Endoscopy nurses generally
float to the following units:
·
Any
clinic within Ambulatory Care Nursing
QUALIFICATIONS OF STAFF
Qualifications/Licenses/Certifications Required of Staff
-
Registered Nurse License
or registration from country of origion
-
Current BCLS
-
Recent acute experiencein
either Endoscopy , Day Surgery or Recovrey Room
HOW ARE STAFF COMPETENCIES AND ONGOING EDUCATION
SERVICES PROVIDED?
Staff inservices
are offered in conjunction with staff meetings and at separate times throughout
the year as needed to maximize staff learning opportunities while maintaining
productivity targets.
These inservices provide
continuing education and meet educational needs identified from any of the
following resources:
·
Physician request
·
Changes in policies or practices in Gastroentrology/Endoscopy management and
staff
·
Any
change in procedures due to new policy statements/research from American
Gastroentrology Association/Society of Nurses and Associates and other pertinent
organizations.
·
Clinical Instructor
Required Competencies
·
Procedure Room Assistant
·
Conscious Sedation
·
Adult
Physical Assessment
·
Pediatric Physical Assessment
METHOD OF COMMUNICATION WITH
OTHER DEPARTMENTS
Internal and External Methods
of Communication
Communication with other
departments is done through the HN via committees, person-to -person
meetings/telephone communication and e-mail. Within the department itself, the
HN communicates to staff via staff meetings (and minutes), person-to-person
meetings and memos . Collaborative practice meetings with G.I and Urology are
scheduled as required
GOALS OF THE DEPARTMENT
·
Revise/establish productivity goals/standards to reflect staffing requirements.
·
Improve patient flow for admission, transfer, and discharge of all patients
·
To
utilize the screening facilities in Room 1 in order to maximize the number of
ERCP procedures which can now be performed within the Endoscopy Unit
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