Quality assurance in endoscopy nursing

Since the 1960s quality assurance has become an integral part of medicine and nursing. The aims of quality assurance cover patient and staff safety and satisfaction, economical factors and the implementation of health care policy. Endoscopy units can be established in hospitals, primary care or ambulatory endoscopy centres. The quality of endoscopy facilities should be the same irrespective where endoscopy is carried out. Endoscopy staff is responsible for individualised, comprehensive patient care, technical assistance including reprocessing, documentation and management of endoscopy units. Quality criteria for endoscopy nursing cover pre, intra and post procedure care. However, a complete separation between clinical medical and nursing outcome criteria is often difficult in Endoscopy, as the clinical interventions are a combination of both medical and nursing actions. It is the combined effort of all staff with the support from the health care provider that leads to a high quality of patient care in Endoscopy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.