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About me

I am a certified gastroenterology and critical care nurse with 17 years of gastrointestinal (GI) experience in addition to more than 20 years of critical care nursing.  I am presently working in a hospital-based full-service gastroenterology unit, which cares for both inpatients and outpatients.  The type of services provided include esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), cholangioscopy, endoscopic ultrasound and fine needle aspiration (EUS + FNA), endobronchial ultrasound and fine needle aspiration (EBUS + FNA), endomicroscopy, chromoendoscopy, capsule endoscopy, esophageal and rectal manometry, Bravo pH monitoring, and 24 hour ambulatory pH/impedance monitoring.  These procedures may also entail doing biopsies, placing stents, removing polyps, variceal banding, radiofrequency ablation, mucosal resections, dilation of strictures, and removal of foreign bodies.

 

I love working in GI and refer to myself as GI Judy.  I am also currently a student in the Master of Nursing program at the College of Nursing University of Texas Arlington.

 

 

GI Judy "Selfie"

Image: © GI Judy

CHECKING YOUR

BACKSIDE

HAS AN UPSIDE

 

Graphic:  Â© GI Judy

My Colonoscopy 

Success Story...

 
Frankly, if I wasn't a gastroenterology procedure nurse, I doubt that I would have ever given serious consideration to having a colonoscopy myself.  So I understand the natural dis-inclination and even active resistance to having this procedure.  When it finally came time for me to have my own screening exam, it occured to me what a downright hypocrite I would be to encourge others to have an exam that I was unwilling to have myself.  Worse yet, what if I wound up having colon cancer due to my own willful neglect?  I had witnessed countless patients express their amazement at how well tolerated their exam was.  What was the source of my hesitation?  Truth be told, what bothered me the most was the thought of having to drink an icky tasting bowel prep.  Admittedly, the prep is not the most palatable concoction, but it certainly beats the prospect of colon cancer.  It wasn't great, but it wasn't THAT bad.  I had a colonoscopy.  You can too!
 
I invite you to share your own colonoscopy success story to encourage others to proeed with colon cancer screening.

GI Judy's Colon Cancer Awareness

The University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing 

in partial fulfillment of the requirements of

N 5308 Nursing Informatics

Joy Don Baker, PhD, RN-BC, CNOR,CNE, NEA-BE, FAAN.

    October, 2015: Date site created by GI Judy.      

    Site last updated on December 28, 2015.          

 

 

 

Medical Disclaimer:

This Web site is solely intended to provide information that will help educate viewers on the importance of regular colon cancer screening to help prevent colon cancer.  No information provided on this Web site is intended  to replace or modify the advice of your health care professional. There are no conflicts of interest, endorsements, sponsors, or commercial interests to disclose.

 

Image "general cancer ribbon" used with permission by Pat Dixon (2012)

http://www.clker.com/clipart-general-cancer-ribbon-3.html

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