Endoscopic ultrasound is a valuable tool used primarily for diagnosing and staging of cancer, which until recently, has exclusively been in the domain of university settings. Starting a program from scratch is a costly and daunting endeavor which requires whole-hearted commitment. This presentation will report the nuts-and-bolts experience of implementing such a program in a community hospital. This presentation will include: background and perceived need, scope and equipment inventory, development and expectations of the core group, in-service preparation, room set-up, and equipment and cart set-up. In addition, the role of team members and staffing issues, collaboration with the lab, overview of cases and findings from the first year of our program, India ink and indigo carmine recipes used for chromoendoscopy and endoscopic mucosal resection, anticipated cost, benefits of the program, and the impact on GI practice will be highlighted.

Section Description

We are pleased to present the abstracts from SGNA's 35th Annual Course, SGNA & You-The Power to Make a Difference. 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.