This presentation seeks to educate gastroenterology nurses about medical malpractice in the endoscopy unit and covers the following topics: 1) elements of professional liability, including important legal definitions (e.g., "standard of care," "statute of limitations," "professional negligence"); 2) scope of insurance coverage for nurses; 3) nature of claims made against endoscopists and gastroenterology nurses; 4) specific risk management issues in endoscopy; 5) particular concerns in endoscopy, including documentation, scope of practice issues (e.g., RN-administered propofol), communication, informed consent, and the presence of vendors in the endoscopy suite; and 6) risk management tips.

This presentation is designed to appeal to all endoscopy nurses, regardless of skill level or practice location. It conveys information every nurse should (and needs to) know about the relationship and interface of law and medical and nursing practice.

Section Description

We are pleased to present the Abstracts from the SGNA's 32nd Annual Course: Passion for GI Nursing: Pass It On!! The diversity of these topics certainly reflects the richness and breadth of our specialty. In keeping with the tradition of the Annual Course, we hope the following abstracts will encourage discussions for improving nursing practice and patient care outcomes.