Travel GI Nurse Jobs

As of Thursday, May 2nd 2024, Vivian has 161 Staff Nursing jobs listed. These jobs pay $49 per hour on average, with the highest-paying job listed up to $74 per hour.

Take a look at Vivian's Travel GI Nurse Career Guide for more information, including required education, responsibilities, pros and cons and more.

Gastroenterology nurses are registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients with illnesses and disorders affecting the digestive system or gastrointestinal tract. Known also as a gastrointestinal or GI nurse, gastroenterology nurses primarily treat patients with stomach and bowel problems and assist GI physicians in diagnosing and treating diverse medical conditions impacting these areas. Issues with the digestive tract often produce extremely uncomfortable symptoms and can impact the health of the body as a whole. GI nurses play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, custom treatments to enhance GI and overall health.

Gastroenterology nurses have a multi-faceted role that utilizes the entire nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, intervention planning, treatment implementation, and evaluation of patients’ responses. They prepare patients for diagnostic procedures, including reviewing medical histories, inquiring about symptoms, checking vital signs, collecting blood and/or fecal samples, and providing pre-procedure and post-procedure patient education. GI nurses also monitor and care for patients as they recover from procedures. Other specific tasks they may perform include:

Gastroenterology nurses find employment in a variety of healthcare settings where GI testing/procedures and overall digestive care are administered. However, many of them work in hospitals in the gastroenterology or endoscopy unit. They may also work in specialized GI centers, outpatient endoscopy suites, or gastroenterologists’ private practices. GI nurses may also find jobs in outpatient surgery centers and long-term care facilities.

Good gastroenterology nurses have advanced knowledge, skills, and experience specifically related to the GI tract and gastrointestinal issues. They’re familiar with all types of endoscopic equipment and instruments and proficient at assisting with endoscopies and colonoscopies. GI nurses are task-oriented and their outstanding customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills help them keep patients well-informed before, during, and after procedures. Successful gastroenterology nurses also possess empathy and compassion that allow them to attend to patients’ emotional needs and help them remain calm. Excellent organization, critical thinking, attention to detail, and team-oriented skills are highly desirable traits of good GI nurses.

The first step towards a career as a gastroenterology travel nurse is becoming a registered nurse. This process requires individuals to earn an associate degree or bachelor’s degree from an accredited nursing program. While an ADN is the minimum requirement, many medical facilities are moving towards requiring BSN-educated nurses for specialty roles like GI nursing. Passing the NCLEX-RN exam is required for licensure and individual states may have further requirements for single-state or multistate RN licensing.

Gastroenterology nurses may hold Basic Life Support (BLS) or Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse (CGRN), among others.

Some healthcare employers may prefer gastroenterology nurse job candidates with Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), and some may even require specific professional certifications.

Having a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) validates your knowledge and skills as a gastroenterology nurse and your dedication to continuing your education in your chosen field. All of which makes you a more desirable job candidate to healthcare employers.