Oxford Handbook Of Gastrointestinal Nursing (oxford Handbooks In Nursing)
Tags: Christine Norton

The role of the gastrointestinal (GI) nurse has changed considerably over recent years. The development of endoscopic equipment has resulted in a demand for skilled nurses to perform procedures which, in the past, were carried out by doctors. In addition, nurses now commonly perform diagnostic tests and prescribe specific drugs in gastroenterology, and the widespread recognition of the need for psychosocial support for gastrointestinal patients, in areas such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), has seen a large increase in the number of GI nurse consultants, nurse specialists, and nurse practitioners. GI nurses work with a wide range of patients from those suffering from minor and acute gastrointestinal disorders, through chronic conditions, to those requiring major surgery and treatment for malignant disease.