Mahalo Malamas!

Back row: Pam Chinen, RN, Joanne Mento, RN, Shane Liu, Tech Center row: Gerry Arakaki, RN, Carol Tabata, RN , Margo Buck, RN Front row: Debbie Payao, LPN, Adele Cacho, Tech

Congratulations to the Endoscopy Center of Hilo, Hawaii for their outstanding work. The endoscopy team consists of three full time RNs, one LPN and one endoscopy assistant.

Edwin Montell, MD, says the staff pulls together to handle in the increasing workload.

"At our free-standing endoscopy center, we do more than 300 cases per month," he says. "The facility and associated office have been JCAHO accredited since 1995."

Great job Hilo Endoscopy!

Baptist Hospital Endoscopy Center at Baptist Hospital: The Best Endoscopy Team

By Maria Tarrau RN, Caroline Gandy, RN

Our endoscopy team is the best because working together and offering each other friendship, honesty and undivided assistance gets us through the roughest day. The end result is, a job well done and one we can feel proud of.

Our aim is to provide nursing excellence to all of our patients and their families. Our unit consists of about 30 people. Four secretaries, four GI associates, and the remainder are highly qualified nurses with many years of experience. We have six procedure rooms and ten prep/recovery rooms, with expansions on the way.

Baptist Hospital is located in Miami, Fla. Those outstanding Endo All Stars shown in the photograph include: sitting: Flora Benamor, RN, procedure rooms, Beth Conover, RN, prep-recovery, Maria Diego, RN, prep-recovery. 2nd row: Betty Hornes, GI Tech, procedure rooms, Ellen Mcgill RN, prep-recovery, Esther Martinez-Sargo, RN, procedure rooms, Maria Tarrau, RN, procedure rooms, Hengi Shahidpoor, RN, procedure rooms, Brenda Mosier, RN, procedure rooms, Clara Lopez, RN, procedure rooms, Bobbie Wich, RN, procedure rooms, Back Row: Diana Phillips, RN, Nurse Manager, Mirtha Mendez, RN, prep-recovery, Jose Nazario, RN, prep-recovery, Patty Marraccini, RN, procedure rooms, Anita Durgee, LPN, procedure rooms, Sherry Boberman, RN, prep-recovery.

Our unit can be very busy with very sick patients. The only way we can provide the care we would wish for one of our own, the best, is by working together as a team. An example of the type of patients we take care off would be an acute gastrointestinal bleeder. This patient usually presents with other complications such as receiving a blood transfusion, with a cardiac history, now unstable, and has showed signs of altered mental status. In this situation there are usually two nurses assigned to the procedure. Working together the patient receives optimal care. A thorough assessment, high-tech monitoring and meticulous administration of conscious sedation to avoid any additional stress to an already compromised patient. After the procedure is finished our highly trained recovery room nurses observe the patient until the patient is fully awake and comfortable.

On the other hand, we can take care of a healthy outpatient who is coming in for a screening colonoscopy for a history of colon polyps or cancer. These patients are not ill but, very nervous and apprehensive about having their colon checked. It takes a special kind of nurse to help these patients feel comfortable and less anxious. Patient teaching plays a very important role with these patients. Sometimes holding a patients hand or just talking them through what they are feeling will help them significantly.

At the end of the day we reflect on the day's work. Praise each other for a job well done, brainstorm on what we could have done better and ask each other for suggestions or advice on a particular case.

Our unit has a high rate for retention. The majority of the staff has been working together for more than five years. We offer each other support at a personal and professional level. That usually helps us through most of our difficult times in our day. Another great asset to our unit is the excellent relationship we have with our physicians. We know what they are going to do next and can anticipate their needs making it a smoother procedure.

Our patient volume and acuity has increased significantly. The nursing shortage has impacted on us as well. We have adjusted to all the changes and have been challenged to work together even more. On weekends, late afternoons or nights when the on-call nurse is called in we try to back each other up. When a two-nurse procedure needs to be done we are readily available to help one another.

We also find the time to celebrate any occasion -- a birthday, holiday or just a special day. We organize potluck lunches. Everyone brings in a dish or sometimes a medical supply representative will sponsor an informative lecture accompanied by a luncheon, which we enjoy very much.

During the holidays a group of us got together and participated in hospital events. We entered a wreath decorating contest as well as a gift basket-decorating contest. Working on these projects was a lot of fun, relaxing and brought out some talents we did not know we had. Surprisingly we won first place in both contests. Another sign that working together pays off.

Our greatest satisfaction is when we receive our patient surveys with excellent reviews. Even when a patient takes the time to send a letter to let us know what a great experience they had in such an unpleasant procedure. You would be surprised on the things patients remember. (Example - the smile the nurse had when I went in the room.)

Our team is the best because we all strive for the same goal. Being part of a magnet hospital, our standards are always above the best. We provide ultimate patient care from the moment the patient arrives to the time the patient leaves our unit. We are very proud of being part of this wonderful team.

Congratulations!

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