The Pulse | Thursday, September 20, 2018

Why Did You Become a GI Nurse or Associate?

Nursing is such a rewarding career. Those studying to be nurses or associates often have an idea of what they would like to specialize in, while others find their passion areas through their training. Whatever the reason, nurses and associates dedicate their lives to gastroenterological trying to help patients around the world.

We asked some SGNA members how they became GI nurses or associates, and we discovered that every story is unique.

“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

“It was a new area. My mother passed away from pancreatic cancer. Working in GI, I’ve been blessed to see how far we’ve come in 33 years.” – Vicki Johnson, St. Luke’s Hospital

 “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, Penn Medicine 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 with GI symptoms and learning how to help has been a great addition to my medical career.” – Deborah Smith, Eaton Rapids Medical Center

“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 surgical center. The passion they showed and the care they gave their patients helped to push me to further my education and become a nurse.” – Alana Hernandez, Rockford Gastroenterology

 “My own colon tumor.” – Diana Mantos, Alliance Community Hospital