Caboolture nurses first in Metro North to join groundbreaking endoscopy training

Caboolture Hospital nurses Jincy Chittilappilly and Marilyn Umney

Two Caboolture Hospital nurses have been selected as the first in Metro North Health to join the prestigious Queensland Nurse Endoscopist Training Program, marking a major step forward in nurse-led models of care.

Jincy Chittilappilly and Marilyn Umney will undertake the two-year program, which combines advanced academic study with hands-on clinical training, preparing nurses to independently perform endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopies and gastroscopies.

Caboolture Hospital is the first site in Metro North to host the program, paving the way for more timely gastroenterology services across the region.

“This training will help reduce waitlists and provide faster, high-quality care for patients with gastrointestinal conditions,” Jincy said.

“I’m so excited – we’re reaching milestones I never thought possible and it’s wonderful to be the first Nurse Practitioner in Metro North to step into this role. We can really make a change and be role models for others wanting to advance their practice.”

For Marilyn, the program represents the next stage of a career spanning more than 25 years in gastroenterology.

Already a Clinical Nurse Consultant and Nurse Practitioner Candidate, she is learning to perform procedures that can detect bowel cancer and other conditions earlier.

“I feel very fortunate for this opportunity,” she said. “It’s not about me – it’s about helping our community access care sooner and improving outcomes for our patients.”

Marilyn’s journey is one of lifelong learning. She has completed three postgraduate studies and is now undertaking her second master’s degree in gastroenterology while balancing dual clinical roles.

“My goal is simple,” she said. “If this training helps even a few people receive earlier treatment and better outcomes, then it will have been worthwhile.”

The Queensland Nurse Endoscopist Training Program is a first for Metro North Health, with Caboolture Hospital setting the pace for innovative workforce models that could be expanded across Queensland.