Celebrating our endoscopy workforce
2020 was Florence Nightingale’s bicentennial year and the World Health Organization declared it year of the nurse!
In JAG, we recognise the importance of the work endoscopy nurses and nurse endoscopists carry out to make endoscopy possible. To celebrate the year of the nurse celebrations, we asked some of those we work with to tell us their stories.
- Helen Griffiths – celebrating 40 years in nursing - Powys Teaching Health Board - Brecon Theatre
- Ian Fretwell - nurse endoscopist, nurse consultant colonoscopy, Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Leigh Donnelly - upper GI nurse specialist Northumbria Healthcare
- Phedra Dodd - consultant nurse for endoscopy & Gastroenterology, JETS Workforce Clinical Lead
- Sarah Marshall - clinical programme manager St. Mark’s Bowel Cancer Screening Centre
- Susan McConnell – nurse lead, screening colonoscopist, Northern Region Training Centre
Inspiration into endoscopy can be through different channels
Occasionally, the path into endoscopy isn’t as clear and apparent. In Phedra’s case, nursing wasn’t even her first choice! She dreamed of being a meteorologist or seismologist – a world away from endoscopy. However, due to a recession and the inability to pursue higher education, she hatched a different plan: to train as a nurse, travel the world – a luxury many of us miss right now – and use the money to fund a degree in physical geography. However, by chance, Phedra became immersed in endoscopy and found that the specialty resonated with her. Perhaps it was meant to be, because Phedra went on to apply for a nurse endoscopist post and secured the role due to her sheer enthusiasm, a knowledge of the British Society of Gastroenterology guidance and a willingness to learn.
The journey into endoscopy can also sometimes start with a compromise. Helen’s story begins when she was 5 years old, with a wish to be a nurse and a brief spell of wanting to be a forensic scientist – but her father had different plans for his daughter. He dreamed of having a doctor in the family; nonetheless, a compromise was reached when Helen joined the navy to begin nurse training. This was somewhat of an homage to her father, who was also in the navy! Helen became a ‘doctor’, albeit of nursing, hoping to make her father smile, as sadly he died before she could complete her goal. This year, she celebrated 40 years of nursing.
The journey sometimes requires a helping hand.
Susan’s endoscopy journey was helped by the assistance of Dr John Silcock, a consultant endoscopist who Susan attests shaped her career. He was involved in her appointment as a trainee nurse endoscopist in 2005 and has continued to provide support and guidance ever since. This relationship has led to improving the workforce, further training to support nursing staff and providing university qualifications.
Ian’s received encouragement from a ward sister, who advised him to convert from state enrolled nurse (SEN) to registered general nurse, with repeated applications to enrol in a nurse conversion programme. Ian’s career in nursing started as a healthcare assistant and has progressed from pupil nurse training (at old Royal Hospital), to SEN staff nurse, and now to nurse endoscopist/consultant. Furthermore, Ian’s surgical colleagues helped in further development in therapeutics and full colonoscopy procedures.
Sarah’s journey has been aided by the clinical and nursing leadership at St Mark’s throughout her career. Sarah’s journey started at St Mark’s Endoscopy Unit as an F grade junior sister. She credits much of her progress to exceptional women leaders, both physician and nurse gastroenterology consultants, who have been inspiring in providing mentorship, support, and direction daily. Sarah credits her team and describes them as extended members of her family due to the amount of time and achievements together: ‘The vision to always do better and improve services and treatments for patients inspires me to push the boundaries, challenge and try to make this happen in our services we provide.’
Life as an endoscopy nurse
Ian describes the best aspect of working as a nurse in endoscopy as teamwork, and the incredible structure in nursing. The empowerment of nurses and endoscopy non-registered colleagues has been one of Ian’s most influential areas, as he has promoted competency-based nursing for all levels. In addition, Ian enjoys clinical contact with patients, and is always mindful of his journey and his roots, remembering he started as a healthcare assistant.
According to Leigh, the best aspect of working as a nurse endoscopist is being able to inspire others. Through her own personal development and learning, she can be a role model for new nurses, highlighting an opportunity to explore various career paths in endoscopy. In addition, she enjoys the satisfaction of being able to reassure nervous patients, and hear their relief after their procedure, when they tell her: ‘That wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be!’. Helen is another nurse for whom the best aspect of the job is contact with patients and is what has kept Helen in clinical practice and out of management.
Phedra’s favourite aspect of the job is being able link the theoretical disease processes and presentations to the practical skills of endoscopy findings. This enables a link to provide therapy for pathology.
All the nurses we spoke to, stressed the importance of multidisciplinary working. Leigh states that teamwork enables empowerment and confidence to become a competent endoscopist. Helen loves teamwork both locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, working with likeminded colleagues to influence and make a difference to endoscopy and gastroenterology nursing practice. Phedra finds teamworking across the multi professional team and in patient-centred care both refreshing and enlightening.
Healthcare continues to adapt, and the face of nursing continues to change – but how fast?
COVID-19 was a life-changing pandemic, and something totally unlike anything we’ve faced before. It is a virus that put the world on pause. It was interesting to discuss the systemic world of nursing, to ponder, whether there have been critical changes.
According to Sarah, the core principles are the same: to provide the best patient care and be their advocate. However, there has been a change in technical skills with many opportunities to specialise and develop careers in the workforce.
Helen notes that the emphasis on spending time with patients, and listening to them, may have been lost among the documentation and burgeoning waiting lists that put speed and efficiency first. Through the chaos of COVID-19, units have been able to exercise the use of telephone triaging endoscopy referrals, rather than ploughing through scoping everyone.
‘I think the JAG standards uniquely place endoscopy as a quality assured service that considers all aspects of patient and staff care, quality of the service and training. The national absorption and synthesis of the BSG guidance has been central to providing equity of service provision.’ – Phedra Dodds
Helen testifies to a career that started with the Falklands War and ended with COVID-19. ‘In the former, the enemy could be seen, but in the latter, it is hidden! In many ways, they presented the same challenges, in different decades, and this time I’m an older and, I think wiser, version of myself.’
The workforce continues to dismantle stereotypes and break down barriers. Leigh addresses this by recognising the potential for the continuous progression for nurses, however, believes there is more to be done. She believes nursing staff are starting to gain recognition and, with the right training and education, can perform at higher levels, with nurses working in clinical practice with postgraduate degrees and post-doctoral studies. ‘We are starting to forge a new path of advanced practice in a way that would have never been considered when I first started’.
I hope this dialogue has conveyed a variation of perspectives. In addition, we have been able to understand and highlight great support systems that encourage the workforce to explore more options in endoscopy. The constant teamwork in the workforce continues to elevate and propel individuals.