Gut Check | Tuesday, March 27, 2018

A Look Back: See How It All Began for These SGNA Members

In celebration of GI Nurses and Associates week, we asked SGNA members about their beginnings in the industry, what led them to become a nurse or GI technician and how they pinpointed the GI and endoscopy specialty.

What inspired you to become a nurse or GI technician?

While working part-time at a hospital, the GI doctors came once a week to perform procedures (with the scopes you had to look through the eyepiece, no monitor) I was hooked. I love GI.

 -Joan Covas, Baxter Regional Medical Center

 

I wanted to help others and make a difference.

-Tammy Bilyeu, RN CNIV CGRN, Med Center Health Bowling Green

 

I was mentored by a GI nurse who was passionate about her specialty.  She shared her knowledge of GI nursing in an easy way and passed on her love of the specialty to me.  I taught her about OR and she taught me about GI.

-Marianne Saunders, the Endoscopy ASF at Penn Medicine at Radnor.

 

I was given the opportunity to work with a dedicated group of three physicians and found after the first year I truly had a passion for everything GI. So many people suffer from GI symptoms and learning how to help has been a great addition to my medical career.

-Deborah Smith RMA GTS, Eaton Rapids Medical Center

 

I interviewed for an RN position in endoscopy. Then I observed a procedure and said SIGN ME UP!

Michelle Day – SGNA President, Hartford Hospital

 

The physicians and GI nurses at Rockford Gastroenterology.  They taught me so much about GI when I was a scope tech and CNA in our Ambulatory Surgery Center.  The passion they showed and the care they gave their patients helped to push me to further my education to become a nurse.

-Alana Hernandez Rockford Gastroenterology

 

What led you to be part of the GI and endoscopy specialty?

At first, it was the hours and my need to be home with my children in the evening. What kept me was every new procedure/technique. The interesting items we use for procedures. But mostly my patients that I am blessed to meet every day. I will always enjoy sharing my specialty with every patient.

- Vicki Johnson RN CGRN, St. Luke's Hospital

 

I was offered the opportunity to work in the GI department and found it to be exciting and satisfying.

-Joan Covas, Baxter Regional Medical Center

 

I always found assisting the gastroenterologist during procedures on my Intensive Care Unit patients interesting. I decided after 20 years in ICU care that GI nursing had the hands-on patient care I loved as well as the variety of procedures offered. I knew it was a field that offered an opportunity to continuously learn new ideas and new treatments for patient care. A GI nursing career would offer me the excitement in my work that I found rewarding.

-Janet King, Massachusetts General Hospital

 

I have a family history of colon cancer and a personal history of tubular adenomas starting at 23 years of age.

-Stacie Yarbrough Marion, Ben Taub Hospital

 

I was currently working on the Medical Surgical Unit and I was ready for a change of pace. I saw openings in two different positions at the hospital I was at, one in the ER and one in GI. I applied for both and was offered a job in both but my heart pulled me towards GI, and I haven’t looked back since!

-Meagan Horter, Aurora Southern Lakes