[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”3″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-gray” border=”stroke” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-cap font-bold uppercase mb-2″]How Long to Become[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-2xl text-primary-800 font-heading font-bold mt-0″]2-4 Years[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-gray” border=”stroke” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-cap font-bold uppercase mb-2″]Job Outlook (2024-2034)[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-2xl text-primary-800 font-heading font-bold mt-0″]5% growth[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-gray” border=”stroke” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-cap font-bold uppercase mb-2″]Average Annual Salary[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-2xl text-primary-800 font-heading font-bold mt-0″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]$98,986[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ class=”mb-0″]What Does an Endoscopy Nurse Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An endoscopy nurse is a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/registered-nursing/”]registered nurse (RN)[/hen-ui-link] who helps surgical teams during endoscopic procedures, a group of procedures designed to examine the inside of the body. Common examples include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Colonoscopy (examines the colon)[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Bronchoscopy (examines the airway and lungs)[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cystoscopy (examines the bladder)[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Laryngoscopy (examines the throat and voice box)[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Often well-versed in calming patient fears about these invasive and sometimes uncomfortable experiences, endoscopy nurses provide care before, during, and after these procedures. They help prep the patient and educate them about treatment and care after the procedure is complete.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/endoscopy-nurse/how-to-become/”]become an endoscopy nurse[/hen-ui-link], you must first earn your RN license. Then, you must acquire specialized clinical knowledge about gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genitourinary diseases and the skills to prepare a patient for a procedure that requires sedation, use and maintain endoscopic equipment, administer sedation medication, and manage emergencies and complications.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Endoscopic nurses carry out a variety of clinical and supervisory roles and responsibilities depending on the specific employment setting.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”2″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Career Traits[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Proficiency in endoscopic procedures[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Interpersonal skills[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Communication skills[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Detail-oriented[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Certification Option[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.abcgn.org/Certify” target=”_blank”]Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Endoscopy Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Endoscopy nurse jobs exist in several different healthcare settings. An endoscopy nurse can often find employment as a staff nurse in a hospital or an outpatient clinic, particularly one specializing in endoscopic procedures. Looking beyond the bedside? Endoscopic nurses can also find work in administrative positions.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Hospitals:[/hen-ui-text] Hospitals rely on endoscopy nurses to prepare patients for an endoscopic procedure or administer sedation medicaitons, monitor vital signs, observe patients throughout procedures and recovery, and provide information to patients and caregivers about tests and treatments.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Specialty Clinics:[/hen-ui-text] Endoscopy nurses may work in outpatient clinics that specialize in specific areas of the body like gastroenterology, pulmonology, or urology clinics. In these settings, they help perform both diagnostic and disease management functions. Duties include preparing patients for procedures, administering medications, assisting with procedures, conducting cancer screenings, and helping patients manage health conditions.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Endoscopy Laboratory Administration:[/hen-ui-text] An endoscopy nurse working in laboratory administration helps supervise technicians and other endoscopy team members. They oversee equipment preparation, cleaning and disinfecting equipment and room for endoscopic procedures, and other aspects of these important behind-the-scenes operations.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Is Endoscopy Nursing Right for Me?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]RNs who pursue endoscopy nurse jobs can find rewarding career opportunities in this expanding area of healthcare. But everything has its pros and cons. Here’s a look at some common advantages and disadvantages to being an endoscopy nurse, to help you decide if it’s the right field for you.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become an Endoscopy Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Like many nursing professions, becoming an endoscopy nurse requires earning a nursing degree, gaining and maintaining your RN licensure, then building up the experience you need to practice more exclusively in that area — or even gain your specialty certification.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Here are the specific steps to become an endoscopy nurse.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Earn a BSN or ADN degree[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An endoscopy nurse needs, at minimum, a two-year [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/adn/”]associate degree[/hen-ui-link]. Because of the specialized training required in endoscopy practice, many employers prefer to hire RNs who hold a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/”]four-year BSN[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Pass the NCLEX-RN to receive nursing licensure[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To practice in their chosen state, graduates of ADN or BSN programs must apply to their state nursing regulatory board [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nclex/guide/”]and pass[/hen-ui-link] the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN).[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Gain clinical nursing experience[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]After earning their degree and RN license, nurses typically seek clinical experience in a specialty field. Nurses who plan to pursue gastroenterology RN certification must complete two years of experience to qualify for this credential.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Consider getting certified[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While CGRN certification is voluntary, many endoscopy nurses pursue this credential to advance their careers and improve their patient care skills. Some employers prefer to hire [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.abcgn.org/Certify/CGRN_Application” target=”_blank”]CGRN-certified nurses[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Endoscopy Nurse Salary[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/endoscopy-nurse/”]Endoscopy nurse salaries[/hen-ui-link] are competitive with those found in other RN specialties. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics does not keep salary data for endoscopy nurses, but the average annual pay for all RNs is $93,600.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to ZipRecruiter, endoscopy nurse jobs average $98,986 per year as of October 2025. The highest-earning endoscopy nurses take in about $156,000 per year on average, while the lowest 25% earn about $73,000 annually.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Endoscopy nurse salary levels fluctuate depending on factors, such as experience or education level, work setting, and geographic location.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.vivian.com/nursing/endoscopy/salary/” target=”_blank”]Vivian[/hen-ui-link], a healthcare hiring platform, reported a $44.91 hourly pay rate for endoscopy nurses — 4% lower than the overall average for all US nurses.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions About Being an Endoscopy Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How long does it take to become an endoscopy nurse?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An ADN degree typically takes two years to complete, while a BSN can require four years of study. After earning their degree, prospective nurses must take the NCLEX-RN and satisfy the nursing licensure requirements for their state. Endoscopy nurses who intend to pursue certification must complete two years of RN clinical experience directly in the field.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What is the difference between a gastroenterology nurse and an endoscopy nurse?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Gastroenterology nurses specialize in the broad, overall care of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Endoscopy nurses specialize in assisting during endoscopic procedures, where a flexible tube with a camera (an endoscope) is used to view various areas of the body, including the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary tracts.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What does an RN do in an endoscopy?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The scope of practice for an endoscopy nurse includes assisting the surgical team during endoscopic procedures; providing patient care before, during, and after the procedure; and educating patients about treatment.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How hard is endoscopy nursing?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Depending on the workplace setting, endoscopy nurses often work in challenging, fast-paced environments, requiring attention to detail and the ability to deal with anxious patients prior to, during, and after procedures. Because these nurses routinely work with patients and families, emergency situations, and life-threatening conditions, they may experience emotional exhaustion.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion]