Our commitment to nursing

For more than 125 years, Johnson & Johnson has been proud to advocate for, elevate, and empower the nursing profession, as we know that nurses are the backbone of health care.
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Why be a nurse?

A career in nursing is one of the most exciting and rewarding occupations. Nurses provide vital hands-on patient care, but that’s not all they do. They are leaders, innovators, educators, change makers helping improve access to care.
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Career advice and inspiration

When new ideas can save lives, nurse innovators need support to move from bedside to boardroom. Their firsthand experience helps them identify patient needs and shape the future of healthcare, as seen in stories from leaders inspiring the next generation.
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Why specialize as a nurse?

Once you’re a Registered Nurse you can take your career in so many new directions by specializing in an area you really enjoy.
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    Nursing
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    1. Nursing/
    2. Nursing specialties/
    3. Medical-surgical nurse

    Medical-surgical nurse

    A medical-surgical nurse has extensive knowledge that can assist doctors on the medical-surgical floor of a hospital.
    Required education
    ADN or BSN
    Average annual salary
    $88,000
    Payscale.com (Jan. 2026)
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    Varied
    Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
    red icon of countdown timer to represent the concept of fast-paced nursing specialty career attribute
    Fast-paced
    React and make decisions quickly in demanding conditions.
    red icon of dollar currency symbol to represent the concept of higher-salary nursing specialty career attribute
    Higher salary
    Earn more by having advanced skills and responsibilities.
    red icon of two persona figures to represent the concept of patient-facing nursing specialty career attribute
    Patient-facing
    Work hands-on, directly with patients.

    What is the role of a medical-surgical nurse?

    You’ll thrive on working in a challenging, fast-paced environment where every case is different. You’ll multi-task and make split-second decisions that’ll save lives.

    What you’ll do as a medical-surgical nurse

    Development

    You’ll constantly increase your knowledge through hands-on experience and continuing education.

    Treatment

    You’ll assess patients and coordinate their care with other members of their medical team under the supervision of a manager or charge nurse.
    Two nurses in scrubs looking through microscopes

    Where you’ll work as a medical-surgical nurse

    Medical-surgical nurses work in a variety of settings, including:
    • Inpatient clinics
    • Outpatient clinics
    • Hospitals
    • Nursing homes
    • Surgical centers
    • Patients’ homes

    How to become a medical-surgical nurse

    Get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

    When considering a future nursing career, it’s important to explore the different nursing programs available and the paths they offer. With various options like associate degree programs, bachelor’s degree programs, and direct-entry master’s degree programs, prospective students can choose the educational path that best suits their goals and interests.

    Pass the NCLEX-RN.

    The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) is the all-important step between graduating from nursing school and becoming a nurse. It’s a standardized test, set by the Board of Nursing in each state, that makes sure you have the knowledge and skills you need to work in the field of nursing.

    Work as a Registered Nurse for two years or spend 2,000 hours in medical-surgical.

    Pass your Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse exam through the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board.

    You’re ready to work as a medical-surgical nurse!

    Medical-surgical nurse career resources

    Become a member of a medical-surgical nurse organization to find career opportunities, learn from your colleagues, and support the profession.
    Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN)

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