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What Do Medical-Surgical Nurses Do?

Surgical nurses prepare patients for operating room procedures, tracking pre-surgery medications, the completion of testing and patient-identification protocols, and pre-surgical nutrition. Medical-surgical nurses also may swab and prepare the patient and monitor intravenous lines.

As a medical-surgical nurse, you work in pre-operative nursing rooms, operating rooms, and recovery rooms, monitoring the patient's vital signs as well as their recovery from anesthesia, and ensuring the safe operation of drains, sutures, dressings, or other medical devices. Most work in a facility where they are responsible in pre- or post-surgery care for three to six patients.

Education & Training Required to Become a Medical-Surgical Nurse

To work in medical-surgical nursing, you must have completed your online diploma, associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing and pass examinations to work as a registered nurse. Often, registered nurses work for one or two years before pursuing speciality certification,

Degree programs in medical-surgical nursing typically provide direct training in pre-operative procedures, controlling bleeding, and sutures. Direct experience in a hospital, clinic, of physician's office is invaluable. You can also complete a Certified Nurses for the Operating Room (CNOR) designation by passing the national examination after gaining operating room experience.

Typical Characteristics of a Medical-Surgical Nurse

Medical-surgical nurses are dedicated to the healing profession and have the ability to respond to crisis situations with calm and intelligence. Patient conditions can change in a matter of minutes. Decisions made by post-operative surgical nurses can make all the difference in a successful outcome. Typically, medical-surgical nurses stay in touch with their specializations, taking ongoing career training and keeping up with the literature.

High Demand for Medical-Surgical Nurses

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts growth in nursing jobs--including those for medical-surgical nurses--by 22 percent, 2008-2018. The mean annual wage for registered nurses at medical-surgical hospitals was $66,490 in 2008.