HISTORY

Foundation of ESGENA
During the first European Conference for Endoscopy Nurses in Oslo/Norway in 1994 a small group of enthusiastic nurses met to discuss the possibility of forming a European Endoscopy Nurses Group. A second follow-up meeting took place during the World Conference of Gastroenterology in Los Angeles later the same year. With the encouragement and financial support of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) a working party was set up, with the remit to write the constitution for the planned society. The group met twice during 1995 to draft the constitution. The group members came from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

Members for an interim governing board were chosen and presented together with the final draft of the constitution to the delegates at the 2nd European Conference in Berlin/Germany in 1995.

Conferences:
The first elections of officers to the Governing Board took place in Paris/France during the 1st ESGENA Conference in November 1996.

Since 1996 ESGENA has organised a European conference every year in conjunction with the United European Gastroenterology Week:

So Far

ESGENA has over 7000 members representing national societies / nursing associations and individual members from 40 countries. (Membership)

In a quickly moving and changing world, improving communication between practising endoscopy and gastroenterology staff is essential to maintain good practice standards. Communication between the society and its members is conducted via the "ESGENA NEWS" which is published biannually.» ESGENA News

In addition the electronic Newsletter, the "E-News", is published in between the printed versions of the ESGENA NEWS in order to provide updated information to ESGENA members.

ESGENA has established databases on different issues:
- Following the 2nd ESGENA conference in Birmingham a database for visits and hospital placements was initiated, with hospitals that are willing to accept visitors from around Europe.
- The speakers‘ database can be used when organising congresses, workshops and seminars all over Europe.
- Information from different national European nurses societies and the training available in each country for endoscopy nurses have also been collected.

Links with other groups with compatible interests/aims have already been established, including a link with the European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN), former Standing Committee of Nurses of the EU (PCN). » EFN-website

We have also represented the interests of our members at the annual meeting of the European Network of Nursing Organisation (ENNO) where different European specialist groups discuss issues concerning their position within the larger field of nursing. In addition, ESGENA was member of the ENNO Steering Group which developed the European framework of post basic nurse education.
» Learn more about ESGENA Education Activities

Strong links have been established with the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) (www.esge.com) which has supported ESGENA since its foundation. Representatives of ESGENA have participated in ESGE-Workshops on advanced Endoscopy and in ESGE Guideline Committees.» ESGE website

ESGENA also established links to the World Organisation of Digestive Endoscopy (OMED) in educational activities like workshops.» OMED website

Since 1996 ESGENA has organised its annual conference at the occation of the United European Gastroenterology Week. Based on this, ESGENA has close cooperations with the United European Gastroenterology Federation (UEGF).» UEGF website

In 2009 ESGENA organised "GI Nurses 2009 - ESGENA/SIGNEA London", in close co-operation with the "Society of Gastroenterological Nurses and Endoscopy Assistants (SIGNEA)".» Learn more about GI Nurses 2009

In order to advance education of endoscopy nurses in Europe, ESGENA founded the ESGENA Education Working Group (EEWG) which is focused on educational needs in further and advanced education. The group developed the European Job Profile of Endoscopy Nurses and the European Core Curriculum for Endoscopy Nursing. Furthermore, ESGENA has also started to support educational activities of membership countries.

We are in an exciting time of forging links with other Endoscopy / Gastroenterology Nurse Societies from all over Europe. Exploring commonalities as well as differences both between and among the various countries will hopefully promote a more enlightened and informed approach in gastroenterology nursing.