Happy Medical-Surgical Nurses Week 2021

Happy Medical-Surgical Nurses Week! MedSurg Nurses Week, celebrated from November 7 - 14, is reserved to celebrate the heroic contributions of medical-surgical nurses everywhere.

Medical-Surgical or MedSurg nursing is the largest and fastest-growing nursing specialty in the United States. MedSurg nurses work in hospitals, surgical centers, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities to provide care for patients with a variety of medical issues or who are recovering from surgeries and procedures.

MedSurg nurses are everywhere, and they're some of the hardest-working individuals around.

Nurses Are Prepared for Anything

On any given shift, a MedSurg nurse could care for a patient suffering from an animal bite, a patient with diabetes, a patient recovering from a transplant, and a patient with asthma. MedSurg nurses also may carry a heavier patient load than other specialties, often handling 5-7 patients at a time.

MedSurg RNs have to be ready for anything clinically, physically, and emotionally. They are trained to recognize and understand a large range of medical conditions. In addition, they must display compassion for their patients through it all. In fact, some medical-surgical nurses say that providing compassionate care for patients is their biggest motivator.

Check out this great example of a day in the life of a medical-surgical nurse from the University of Buffalo School of Nursing.

Medical-Surgical Nurses Are Unique

In 2014, the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses assembled a task force to create an official description of the "distinguishing characteristics of medical-surgical nursing." Their eloquent definition of the work of the MedSurg nurse is:

"Medical-surgical nursing is the single largest nursing specialty in the United States and beyond. Medical-surgical nurses provide care to adults with a variety of medical issues or who are preparing for/recovering from surgery. They have a broad knowledge base and are experts in their practice. Medical-surgical nurses have advanced organizational, prioritization, assessment and communication skills and are leaders in coordinating care among the interprofessional health care team.

Medical-surgical nursing is practiced in several settings across the health care industry, including hospitals, outpatient settings, in homes, via telemedicine and other non-traditional settings. The specialty of medical-surgical nursing happens in almost every care environment because medical-surgical nursing is what you practice, not where."

Medical-surgical RN responsibilities include:

• Daily post-surgical and pre-surgical patient assessments
• Coordination of patient care procedures and plans
• Continuous evaluation of patients’ health status
• Display extensive knowledge in many areas of patient focus and be able to care for many patients with compassion

MedSurg nurses perform a variety of duties including:

• Insert foley catheters
• Start IVs
• Change and dress wounds
• Administer medications
• Complete charting duties

Medical-Surgical Nurses Make a Difference in the World

Medical-surgical nurses make a difference in the lives of patients, patients' families, and their communities. Their contributions reach far beyond the bedside. According to the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board, these are some of the many ways that the work of MedSurg nurses affect healthcare and the world:

• MedSurg nurses work together to build the profession of nursing and the medical-surgical nursing specialty
• MedSurg nurses mentor and nurture each other
• MedSurg nurses advocate for patients and families at the local and national scale
• Medsurg nurses serve their communities through care and education
• Medsurg nurses improve patient care through evidence-based practice and the promotion of medical-surgical nursing certification
• MedSurg nurses speak, write, and conduct research to inspire and educate other healthcare professionals and beyond

Join the Medical-Surgical Nurses Week Celebration with Gifted Healthcare

This week, join Gifted Healthcare as we celebrate the heroic work of MedSurg nurses.

A BIG THANKS to all the amazing MedSurg RNs providing high-quality, compassionate care for patients in need!

Your Gifted Team is here every step of the way on your travel nurse journey. You can even refer an RN friend that you think would love an assignment with Gifted and you will both earn $500! Start your referral today.

Sources

1. About AMSN: What Is Med-Surg Nursing? | Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN). (2020). Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. https://www.amsn.org/about-amsn/what-med-surg-nursing
2. MSNCB. (2016, May 27). Medical-Surgical Nurses Week: November 1-7. https://www.msncb.org/employer-resources/certified-nurse-appreciation/medical-surgical-nurses-week-november-1-7