- Nursing
- Nursing specialties
- 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.
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Required education
ADN or BSN
Varied
Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
Fast-paced
React and make decisions quickly in demanding conditions.
Higher salary
Earn more by having advanced skills and responsibilities.
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.
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)
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN)
Related nursing specialties
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An emergency nurse takes care of patients in a wide range of situations, from fevers, to minor injuries and major trauma.
Critical care nurse
A critical care or ICU nurse takes care of patients who are in a critical condition or recovering from a serious medical condition.