What does a Med-Surg Nurse do?

Med-Surg nursing, formally called medical-surgical nursing, is a foundational nursing specialty that makes up the backbone of other nursing specialties. This means, many other nursing specialties collaborate with the patient care teams on the medical-surgical floor.. Med-surg nurses are tasked with taking care of patients needing acute care. They’re also oftentimes responsible for taking care of patients that are recovering from, or in need of surgery.

Why is it called “Med-Surg”?

The term “med-surg” is short for medical-surgical nursing. Med-surg nursing is the largest nursing specialty in the United States according to the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. Med-surg is a specialty that is found in nearly all healthcare environments in some way or another.

How do you become a Med-Surg Nurse?

You must first pass your NCLEX exam and obtain your nursing license. Beyond that, some employers might require you to have a Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification (MEDSURG-BC), but this can vary from employer to employer, and you should review job postings to determine which certifications are required.

What opportunities for advancement exist for Med-Surg Nurses?

There are a few different ways that med-surg nurses can advance their careers. The best way most med-surg nurses find to advance their careers is by choosing to specialize further in other areas of medicine. You can also advance into leadership roles, becoming a Director of Nursing, or a Nurse Manager, where you can help build out the patient care protocols for entire nursing teams.

Where can I find the best Med-Surg Nursing roles?

With Wanderly, you can search and compare exclusive med-surg nursing roles you won’t find anywhere else! Check out our open med-surg nurse jobs and apply today.