Medical Surgical CNS Degrees Online

View more online featured programs:

• Bachelor's Programs
• Master's Programs
• Doctorate Programs

View more online featured programs:

• Bachelor's Programs
• Master's Programs
• Doctorate Programs

The beauty of “med-surg” nursing is that nurses get to work with patients who have been diagnosed with a tremendous variety of conditions. They may care for an 80 year old woman with heart failure one day and a young man with a sports injury the next. Most nurses will care for between five and seven patients per shift, depending on their hospitals policy and the patient’s level of care, and must also plan for discharging patients and subsequent new admissions. Hospital nurses usually work three or four 12-hourshifts per week, though a few still work five 8-hourshifts.

Working as a Medical-Surgical Nurse

Med-surg nurses monitor patients, administer medications, advocate for patients and their families, coordinate care across multiple disciplines and provide a therapeutic environment for recovery. Education is a major component of medical-surgical nursing. The patient (and their caregivers)need to learn about their condition, their treatment, and how to care for themselves after being discharged. Nurses may prep their patients for surgical procedures and helprecover them afterwards. They can also change dressings, perform catheterizations and insert intravenous lines.

While medical-surgical nursing is one of the largest specialties in nursing, many nurses view it as an entry-level position – a chance to gain a broad knowledge base before moving on to a specialty practice. There are many nurses, however, who choose to practice as medical-surgical nurses throughout their entire career because they enjoy the variety and unpredictability.

Certification for Medical Surgical Nurses

Certification as a medical surgical nurse is possible by either the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) after working for 2,000 hours in the field and taking the certification exam. Both certifications are accepted as equally valid, though the MSNCB is the one officially recognized by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, which is the main specialty organization.

List of Medical Surgical CNS Programs

All Medical Surgical CNS Programs