MUSC program a hit at national meeting
by Phyllis Malpas, R.N.Digestive Disease Center
MUSC made a bit of nursing history May 17 at the Society of Gastroenterology and Associates (SGNA) Annual Education course in Atlanta with a program that gave nurses and technicians a hands-on approach to the techniques and complex equipment involved in
Pancreato Biliary Endoscopy (ERCP).
ERCP is the most complex and highly technical of the gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures.
An
animal lab staff preps the model.
“Having staffed ERCP cases for many years, I have heard the need for this type of training expressed repeatedly by nurses and technicians,” said Digestive Disease Center registered nurse Gerry Chiappone. “This training helps ERCP staff perform with increased confidence during this complex and precise procedure.”
Chiappone is responsible for bringing the course, “Basic and Advanced Hands-On ERCP,” to the national meeting. The course drew 100 nurses and technicians from across the U.S. and Canada.
Two other MUSC staff members, Jody Williamson and Rob Jones, participated as course instructors.
They, with five nurses from Florida and Massachusetts, trained delegates at eight stations in two, three-hour long sessions using the GI tract of an already sacrificed animal model. Becky DeLegge, biomedical engineer consultant, and veterinary technicians Sharon Martinez and Roxanne Eddy from the MUSC animal research facility, were able to produce the models, procure the GI tract specimens, bring them to Atlanta, prepare them and assist the attendees throughout the day.
Traditionally, this hands on model has been used in training physicians in ERCP, but never for nurses and technicians. About a year ago, and with the use of the Digestive Disease Center animal lab at MUSC, this hands-on process was translated into MUSC’s own ERCP nurse course offering. Consequently, with training in approaches to ERCP of interest to GI nurses, Chiappone took the course to the national event and demonstrated multidisciplinary partnership and a cooperative link among medicine, nursing and industry.
“Nearly one month after our program, we are still receiving positive comments from attendees and various people in the GI community regarding the great reception this course received at the national SGNA meeting,” Chiappone said.
Hands-On ERCP has already been invited to next year’s Annual GI Nursing
National Meeting in Dallas.
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