Announcements

GINAW 2021 buttons and posters are now available for purchase in the SGNA Store! Build your own GINAW kits for pre-order by February 17. 

Pre-Order Instructions:

• Visit the SGNA Store 
• Select the GINAW item you would like to add into your GINAW kit and click "add to Cart" 
• When you are ready with your order, click "checkout" on the right side of the page
• Enter a detailed shipping address
  • Please make sure to put in the shipping address that you wish for the GINAW kit to be delivered to. To ensure that your GINAW kit arrive prior to March 21, please utilize "Line 2" to make clear the destination i.e. department, room number, attention name, or unit.
• Enter your payment method
• Review your order and click "Place Order"

All GINAW orders will be shipped in March.

The  Multisociety Guideline on Reprocessing Flexible GI Endoscopes and Accessories has been updated. SGNA endorses and participated in the development of the guideline which can be accessed on the SGNA website.  

You can access this, and all other guidelines, on our elearning site here. 

We know you’ve been wondering about this spring’s Annual Course. Due to the continued public health threat caused by COVID-19, SGNA’s Board of Directors has decided to host the SGNA 48^th Annual Course: A Virtual Experience, as a live, virtual event May 22-25 to help you learn and connect with the SGNA peers, and earn contact hours, while we await the chance to come back together in person. We will offer optional pre-conference workshops May 21-22 that can be added to your virtual event registration.

 

Please visit our frequently asked questions page to learn more about our 2021 event.

Stay connected to all-things SGNA by signing up for member exclusive text alerts! Sign up today to receive SGNA text message updates and promotions.

Wednesday, December 2 at 6:00 pm CST

Presented by: Kristina Matos RN BSN CGRN; Karissa Weidman, MD 

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a minimally invasive procedure that aids in diagnosing diseases that affect the lung, including infections, cancer and inflammatory processes such as sarcoidosis. Register for this webinar for a review of EBUS and to become familiar with the indications, procedure and patient care peri-procedurally.

Upon successful completion, participants can earn up to 1.00 contact hour. Contact hours are being applied for through ABCGN, CBSPD and IAHCSMM. 

Register Here 

Each year at the Annual Course, SGNA recognizes members who have made important contributions in direct patient care in one or more of several performance categories. Consider submitting a nomination for yourself or a peer who stands out in the field.    The Distinguished Service Award recognizes a current SGNA member who has made significant contributions to the regional and national activities of the Society in the previous year. The Gabriele Schindler Clinical Excellence Award, named for an early pioneer in gastroenterology patient care, recognizes a member who has made important contributions in direct patient care in one or more of several performance categories.   Learn more or download the nomination forms here. Nominations for both awards are due Monday, January 4, 2021.

Celebrate the achievements of your peers with SGNA's Regional Society Member of the Year Award! Nominate members who have made a substantial positive impact in your region. There are several areas of performance in which a member can excel I order to qualify for this award, including: Facilitator/Mentor, Innovation, Organization, and Passion.    Learn more or submit a nomination here. Nominations are due Monday, January 4, 2021.

• One free live webinar
• Entry into a drawing for one free Core Curriculum (6^th Edition), and an SGNA blanket and water bottle

The deadline to apply for the Associates and Advanced Associates Program Scholarships has been extended to this Friday, October 9. These scholarships will financially assist technicians and associates who are interested in taking these online programs. Find the full criteria and applications here.

 

Learn more about the Associates Program and Advanced Associates Program.

Are you interested in renewing your SGNA Membership but are facing financial restraints? The SGNA Membership Dues scholarship has been established to financially assist SGNA Members with their annual membership dues. Find the full criteria and applications here.

Applications are due Thursday, October 1.

Have you been thinking about taking either the Associates or Advanced Associates Program? Apply for one of the Associates and Advanced Associates Program Scholarships! These scholarships were created to financially assist technicians and associates in taking these online programs. Find the full criteria and applications here. Applications are due Thursday, October 1.

On Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00pm CDT, J. Hudson Garrett Jr., PhD, MSN, MPH, MBA, FNP-BC, IP-BC, PLNC, AS-BC, VA-BC, FACDONA, FAAPM, FNAP presents "Creating Sustainable Solutions for Core Practices in Infection Control" on behalf of SGNA. Upon successful completion, participants can earn up to 1.0 contact hour. We hope to see you there!

This webinar is supported by Cantel.

SGNA is excited to introduce SGNA 47^th Annual Course: A Virtual Experience, a live, virtual event taking place October 31-November 2, 2020 to help you learn and connect with the SGNA peers while we await the chance to come back together in person. This event will be held instead of the SGNA 47^th Annual Course this fall due to the continued risk to our community presented by COVID-19 pandemic.

Please visit our frequently asked questions page to learn more about what this decision means for our event attendees, sponsors and exhibitors.

On Tuesday, August 11 at 6:00pm CDT. Stacie Miller, RN, MSN, MPH will present A Population-Based Approach to Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Underserved Individuals . Upon successful completion, participants can earn up to 1.0 GI-Specific contact hour through ABCGN as well as through IAHCSMM and CBSPD.

Are you ready to Gut to the Chase? We are excited to announce the launch of our brand new podcast series! Exclusively for SGNA members, this podcast will cover a variety of important topics across the gastroenterology/endoscopy specialty.

All of the episodes will be hosted in the eLearning Center. Our first series will focus on issues related to reopening GI units from the vendor perspective. Upcoming topics include SGNA President’s vision for the future and pivoting to virtual education.

Listen to the introductory episode today!

*Members must be logged into their SGNA account to access the podcast episodes.

Dennis P. Doherty, MSN, RN, NPD-BC presents “Distance Learning Strategies to Connect with Learners, Enhance Engagement, and Optimize Outcomes” on behalf of SGNA.

Planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating distance learning programs requires specific knowledge and skills that vary greatly from the face-to-face learning environment. This program will provide an overview of strategies to engage learners when teaching from a distance and share best practices to achieve learning outcomes.

Register Here for the LIVE Webinar, July 14, 2020

J. Hudson Garrett Jr., PhD, MSN, MPH, MBA, FNP-BC, IP-BC, PLNC, AS-BC, VA-BC, FACDONA, FAAPM, FNAP presents "State of the State with COVID-19: Strategies for Ensuring Safe Clinical Care" on behalf of SGNA.

This program will review the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic, discuss evidence-based strategies to reduce the transmission of COVID, and also review a checklist approach to protecting the healthcare team during clinical procedures.

At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants will be able to:

1. Review the top lessons learned in healthcare from the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact to healthcare delivery
2. Discuss the short and long-term impacts to frontline healthcare professionals of the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Discuss a comprehensive approach to protecting healthcare workers from future pandemics

The Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc., is accredited as a provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This course is worth 1.33 contact hours. Contact hours expire on July 1, 2023.

Register Here 

If you or someone you know is pursuing their nursing education, encourage them to apply for the SGNA RN Advancing Education Scholarship! SGNA created this scholarship to financially assist SGNA members who are pursuing their nursing education. The recipient of this scholarship will receive funds of $2,000 for a full-time student or $1,000 for a part-time student. The winner(s) will be announced in Fall 2020 and will be rewarded as reimbursement after official transcripts have been sent to SGNA HQ.  The deadline to apply is Friday, July 31. Download the scholarship application here. Sponsored by: Diversatek Healthcare

Tell your friends and colleagues about SGNA's mid-year membership! This is the perfect opportunity for them to join SGNA through December 31, 2021. 

Let them know about the benefits of being a member, such as access to SGNA Communities, exclusive discounts on educational resources and Annual Course registration and more!

SGNA is going virtual! While the Annual Course may have been postponed, the Annual Business Meeting will go on. Join us Monday, May 18, 2020 at 5:00 pm CT and find out first-hand from your elected leaders how SGNA continues to evolve as we review 2019. You can pre-register here. Participating in your society's business meeting is an important benefit of SGNA membership and we hope to "see" you there!

Overview: Monica Saumoy, MD MS presents “Endoscopic Advancements in Therapeutic Endoscopy – Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy” on behalf of SGNA.

A review of achalasia and its current management options, particularly per oral endoscopic myotomy. 

At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants will be able to:

1. Recognize achalasia as a disease process and patient’s symptom presentation
2. Describe per oral endoscopic myotomy as a procedure
3. Compare endoscopic options for achalasia (dilation, botulinum toxin injection and per oral endoscopic myotomy)

Register Here for the LIVE Webinar, May 12th 2020

SGNA has just released our Joint Statement on the Management of endoscopes, endoscope reprocessing, and storage areas during the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

This document provides 14 best practice recommendations and answers 12 important questions including: 

• How should a procedure room be cleaned after known COVID-19 cases?
• What changes are needed to prevent transmission from patients to the reprocessing staff?
• Are there any instructions on cleaning reprocessing and storage areas prior to re-opening of endoscopy suites?

Read the full statement on our website here.

Thank you all for your patience and thoughtful feedback as SGNA’s Board of Directors has monitored the current public health situation relative to COVID-19 and the 47^th Annual Course and investigated solutions that supported the education and professional development needs of our community while helping to ensure your safety and well being.

At this time, we are excited to announce that the 47^th Annual Course event dates are moving to November 1-3, 2020 (with pre-meeting events October 30-31), still in Louisville, KY! Please visit our frequently asked questions page to learn more about what this decision means for our event attendees, sponsors and exhibitors.

To help ensure the safety and well-being of your SGNA Headquarters staff, all employees are currently working remotely. Advanced technology is already in place to ensure that association operations continue uninterrupted, including providing all employees with laptops, access to videoconferencing, and laptop-enabled calling. This means that you can still reach your Headquarters staff, just as you have in the past.

We understand this situation is evolving quickly, and we will continue to share important information with you in a timely manner. We appreciate your patience and continued support of the organization. We also wish to reinforce that if there is any way we can help you navigate these challenging times, please feel free to reach out to us and your peers in SGNA community. Stay healthy and safe.

Title: Clinical Implications of COVID-19 Infection: Strategies for Preparedness, Mitigation, and Clinical Operations

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Time:  5:00pm cst – 6:30pm cst (approx. end with 50 minutes of lecture and Q & A)

Presenter: J. Hudson Garrett Jr., PhD, MSN, MPH, MBA, FNP-BC, IP-BC, PLNC, AS-BC, VA-BC, FACDONA, FAAPM, FNAP

Overview: This webinar program will review the current status of the COVID-19 Pandemic, implications to clinical practices in procedural settings, and also discuss commonsense approaches to ensuring a safe work environment.

Click Here to Register

Title: From Admission to Discharge – Applying the Principles of Safe Injection Practices in Endoscopy Settings
Speaker: Renee Fusco, RN, CIC
Time: 3/31 6:00-7:00pm
Overview: Review of CDC Guidelines for Safe Injection Practices as they apply to each care area and strategies to improve practice.

• 1 CE, ABCGN GI specific, IAHCSMM approved, CBSPD approval pending

Click Here to Register 

 

SGNA is soliciting volunteers with relative subject matter expertise to serve on a Work Group for the revision of the SGNA Pulmonary Manual, 4th edition. The targeted revision cycle will run from March 2020 to May 2020 and require approximately 10-12 hours/month.

Please submit your application to SGNA Headquarters by email to KPerry@sgna.org or by fax to 312.673.6694 by March 26, 2020.