Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.