A diagnostic procedure called a colonoscopy enables medical professionals to check the colon and rectum for anomalies such polyps, cancers, and inflammation. A long, flexible tube with a camera and light on the end is used for the procedure and is introduced via the anus and into the colon. The issue at hand is whether nurses are capable of carrying out this treatment, and if not, what part do they play in it.
Colonoscopies are typically outside of the purview of a nurse’s profession. The person doing this treatment is often a gastroenterologist or an endoscopic expert. Nevertheless, nurses are crucial to the pre-op and post-op care of patients having a colonoscopy. Nurses are in charge of informing patients about the procedure, getting them ready for the test, and keeping an eye on them throughout and after it.
Nurses evaluate the patient’s current health and medical history before to the surgery. Additionally, they offer guidelines on how to get ready for the colonoscopy, which typically include following a special diet and doing some bowel preparation to make sure the colon is clear and free of feces. Nurses give sedation, check the patient’s vital signs, and offer comfort measures while the treatment is being performed. Following the procedure, nurses check on the patient’s progress and give post-procedure care recommendations.
A flexible tube with a camera and light on the end is used during a variety of procedures known as endoscopies to see inside the body. Endoscopy comes in various forms, including colonoscopy and upper endoscopy, which looks at the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Although some nurses may have received training to assist in endoscopic operations, they are rarely the main provider conducting the procedure.
Because there is no incision made into the body during an endoscopy, it is not regarded as a surgical procedure. To be performed safely and successfully, it is still a medical treatment that calls for particular training and experience. Endoscopy complications are uncommon but might include bleeding, infection, intestinal perforation, and negative sedation-related reactions.
Perforation of the bowel, which can happen if the scope punctures the lining of the intestine, is the most significant side effect of gastric endoscopy. Infection, hemorrhage, and the requirement for urgent surgery can result from this. The likelihood of this problem, which happens in fewer than 1% of cases, is modest. By selecting a skilled physician, according to all preparation guidelines, and reporting any symptoms or concerns right once, the chance of problems can be reduced.
In conclusion, even though nurses do not perform colonoscopies, they are extremely important in the patient’s preparation, monitoring, and recuperation. While nurses may help with endoscopy treatments, they are usually not the primary practitioner doing them. Endoscopy is a collection of operations that employ a flexible tube with a camera and light on the end to view the interior of the body. Endoscopy complications are uncommon, but the risk can be reduced by selecting a trained practitioner and according to all preparation guidelines.