SGNA
Abstract
In 1969, Marna L Schirmer, a registered nurse (RN) and the founder of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc. (SGNA), was assisting gastroenterologists with procedures at Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center in New York. Wanting to expand her knowledge and keep abreast of the latest technologies and techniques, Schirmer attended educational meetings of the professional association for gastrointestinal (GI) physicians, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). Seeing a number of other nurses in attendance, Schirmer realized the time was right for an organization dedicated to the gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing profession and began contacting gastroenterologists across the country to compile a database of nurses working in this specialty area. It is due to Schirmer’s concerted efforts that SGNA was formed and held its first annual meeting in 1974.
GI nursing is a specialty practice area in which nurses and associates provide care to patients with known or suspected GI problems undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic treatment and/or procedures. The nurses and associates practice in physician offices, in- and out-patient endoscopy departments, ambulatory endoscopy centers, and in-patient hospital units. GI nurses are licensed in their state of practice and generally have experience in medical-surgical nursing prior to electing to specialize.
In three decades, SGNA has grown from fewer than 100 to more than 8,000 members, 88% of whom are licensed nurses, 5% technicians and 7% affiliate including vendors, managers, and consultants. These nursing professionals and associates share diagnostic techniques, collaborate on research projects, develop educational curricula for other professionals, and further their own learning in the field. Their collective efforts help to advance the safe and effective practice of gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing.
SGNA is the only national association for GI nursing and sets high standards for the profession through the position statements it publishes. Viewed as the ‘gold standard’ in the industry, SGNA’s position statements cover topics such as the:
- role of GI RNs in the management of patients undergoing sedated procedures;
- performance of GI manometry studies and provocative testing;
- role of the nurse/associate in the placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube;
- role delineation of assistive personnel; and
- role delineation of the advanced practice nurse in gastroenterology/hepatology and endoscopy.
