Working Life: Taking the BowelScreen test can be so valuable to people’s health

Deirdre Diver, advanced nurse practitioner gastroenterology, nurse endoscopist/BowelScreen

Deirdre Diver, Advanced Nurse Practitioner Gastroenterology, Nurse Endoscopist/ BowelScreen

6am

Early morning is my golden time as the house is quiet. 

I listen to the radio, have tea and read before my three boys get up. 

My husband takes our youngest to school.

7.30am

At my desk, I check emails and the BowelScreen list. 

I coordinate the BowelScreen endoscopy programme in Letterkenny University Hospital. 

This is where people from the area who have had traces of blood found in their screening test sample undergo colonoscopy to investigate the cause. 

The sample is taken using the at-home FIT kit. Our BowelScreen unit is celebrating its tenth year.

8am

Scrubs on, I head to the endoscopy department where I meet the team, including consultants and clinical nurse specialists. 

Following the nursing admission process, I meet our first patient. 

They already had a BowelScreen telephone health pre-assessment, so this is an opportunity to discuss any concerns. 

Once they give consent, they go to the procedure room to be greeted by our nursing staff. 

They are given an intravenous sedation and I begin the colonoscopy, a 30-minute procedure examing the large bowel with a special camera called a colonoscope. 

I remove any visible pre-cancerous changes (called polyps) and take biopsies for further investigation.

10am

After the procedure, the patient is transferred to the recovery room where I visit them to discuss what I’ve found. 

I advise rest, a light diet and a return to normal activities after 24 hours.

1pm

Lunch in the staff room.

1.30pm

I complete more BowelScreen procedures. BowelScreen patients are different to other endoscopy ones in that the majority have no symptoms, so if we do find cancer, it‘s at an earlier stage when it’s easier to treat. 

Removing polyps means we can prevent some cancers from developing. Taking the BowelScreen test can be so valuable to people’s health.

3.30pm

Once the list is completed and patients discharged, I thank staff before returning to the office to complete administration and ensure all colonoscopy samples are transferred to the laboratory.

6pm

Over dinner, I hear the kids’ news from school and college. 

I try to squeeze in some flute or cello practice, too. I ring my mother for a chat before bedtime at 11pm.

• April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. BowelScreen is for people aged 59-69. To find out more and register call Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or visit www.bowelscreen.ie