A description of the gastroenterology nurse endoscopist role in the United States.

Abstract

The use of nurse endoscopists in the specialty of gastroenterology has gained recent support in the United States. While studies using nurse endoscopists have documented positive patient outcomes, including cost effectiveness, public access to cancer screening, and patient satisfaction, research regarding the training and experiences of nurse endoscopists is almost nonexistent. This article presents findings from an exploratory, descriptive study of 17 gastroenterology nurse endoscopists in the United States. Study subjects describe their role as nurse endoscopists, their experiences, and their opinions about basic job and curriculum requirements for further development. These findings support the viability and future expansion of this advanced practice role in gastroenterology nursing.