Mission Statement

The Society of International Gastroenterological Nurses and Endoscopy Associates (SIGNEA) is a multinational network of nurses and healthcare professionals who work in the fields of gastroenterology and endoscopy. SIGNEA has been formed so that nurses and professionals in the fields of GE and endoscopy can make worldwide contact with their colleagues and exchange information to keep abreast of the latest clinical and technical developments in gastroenterology around the world.

Goals

1. To facilitate communication and collaboration between gastroenterology and endoscopy nurses and healthcare professionals throughout the world.
2. To promote and assist in the formation of national nursing societies of GE throughout the world with particular efforts in developing countries where more assistance may be needed.
3. To provide access to international standards from participating countries around the world to ensure quality patient care in gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing.
4. To develop education and training opportunities for GE nurses and healthcare professionals around the world.
5. To support related research and scientific activities in gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing and to propagate information in order to advance the profession of gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing.
6. To advance GE nurses as true professionals and assist them in any efforts to interact with medical colleagues and other organizations interested in gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing.
7. To design, organize, and promote SIGNEA’s quadrennial educational course for the purpose of developing global progress of GE nursing.

History of SIGNEA

• 1970 to early 1980s - informal networking of G.E. nurses internationally
• 1982 New Orleans, USA - initial organizational meeting for international group.
• 1986 Sao Paulo, Brazil - 1st Educational Meeting in conjunction with World Congresses of Gastroenterology, 17 registrants.
• 1988 Rome, Italy - 2nd Educational Meeting in conjunction with European Congresses of Gastroenterology and Digestive Disease Endoscopy.
  1st Executive Committee elected, 27 registrants.
• 1989 - First issue of SIGNEA newsletter now published every four months.
• 1990 Sydney, Australia - 3rd Educational Meeting in conjunction with World Congresses of Gastroenterology. Constitution ratified, 217 registrants
• 1992 Athens, Greece - 4th Educational Meeting in conjunction with First United European Gastroenterology Week
• 1994 Los Angeles, USA - 5th Educational Meeting in conjunction with World Congresses of Gastroenterology
• 1996 Paris, France - 6th Educational Meeting in conjunction with 5th United European Gastroenterology Week, over 550 registrants
• 1998 Vienna, Austria - 7th Educational Meeting in conjunction with World Congresses of Gastroenterology, with 420 nurses from 52 countries. All 5 continents were represented.
• 2001 Lima, Peru – 1st Educational Meeting in conjunction with the Pan American Congress
• 2003 Madrid, Spain – 11th UEGW/7th ESGENA Conference ? 2004 Prague, Czech Republic – 12th UEGW/8th ESGENA Mee
• 2005 Montreal, Canada – 9th SIGNEA Educational Meeting in conjunction with the World Congresses of Gastroenterology, over 450 registrant
• 2005 Copenhagen, Denmark – 13th UEGW/9th ESGENA Conference