For healthcare staff, handling patients on a daily basis puts so much force on the musculoskeletal system that even perfect body mechanics cannot prevent pain and injury. Learn how endoscopy nurses and technicians can guard against the inevitable—in under a minute.

Did you know that one of every two endoscopy staff will suffer a work-related musculoskeletal disorder? Find out why in under a minute.

In the recent past, hospitals and healthcare organization balked at the cost of safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) equipment, for instance, patient lifts. Over the last few years, however, awareness of work-related injury (and its costs) among healthcare staff has grown. In addition, recent studies indicate that SPHM investments pay for themselves quickly. That said, there are quite a few SPHM tools and technologies with a low price point; some are even free!

Inadequate staffing and substandard patient handling equipment can get in the way of a nurse’s ability to care for patients. And then there is the human factor. Walk into any office break room, and you will find a wide variety of temperaments and personalities. In fact, sitcoms and movies that parody workplace culture are commonplace. In healthcare, however, where a patient’s welfare is in question, disruptive behavior is no laughing matter. HR problems can escalate quickly and can have dramatic negative impacts.

In 2018, the number of U.S. workers involved in strikes and lockouts was at its highest rate since 1986. This is despite the fact that percentage of U.S. workers who belong to a union continues to fall; the current rate is 10.5%.

“What's one thing you wish you had in your [GI] lab, or one thing you couldn't live without that you currently have?” This attention-grabbing question was posted recently on an SGNA discussion board.

Nursing is a physically and mentally demanding profession. At the end of the day, nurses deserve a break, but for the sake of your career and patients, it’s important to stay current on patient care skills, industry changes, and nursing technique and practices. The principal way to accomplish this is through continuing education (CE).

A recent article in Endoscopy International raises the question, “Should the endoscopist be considered and trained like an athlete?” Although those outside the field of endoscopy might not immediately see the connection, because of the physical nature of a gastroenterologist’s job, the issue is an important one. And given the fact that one out of every two endoscopy staff will eventually suffer a work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) injury, the same question should be asked of nurses and nursing assistants.

The 2018 list of top 10 health technology hazards ranks the "failure to consistently and effectively reprocess flexible endoscopes" as #2. It may seem surprising, but when scopes are not thoroughly cleaned, dried, and stored, they can harbor Pseudomonas (associated with sepsis), salmonella, E. coli, and worse. These microorganisms can then be passed to patients undergoing an endoscopic procedure, like a colonoscopy, and to staff handling the scopes before, during, and after the case.

To attract and retain employees, some businesses offer perks ranging from on-site yoga to monthly karaoke parties. But once the novelty of these benefits wears off, do they really boost morale? Do employees really feel that the company understands their needs? Are the investments genuine? While some employees do appreciate such services, most would rather know that that their organization truly cares about them as individuals.