Today, medical-surgical nurses work in many different positions on the hospital floor as well as in other settings. To be eligible to become certified as a medical-surgical registered nurse (MS-RN) you will need to have fulfilled the following requirements: Medical-surgical nurses should not only be exceptionally knowledgeable in a wide variety of nursing topics, but they must also be able to keep calm and maintain a cool head under stressful conditions. In a clinic, nurses often conduct routine physical exams, which allow for a relationship to form between the practitioner and patient. It also isn't out of the norm for these nurses to enjoy a couple to a few weeks of paid-time off each year. Specific critical care nurse or ICU nurse duties and responsibilities can include: Monitor exact, detailed reports and records of critical ICU patient. Nurses have several responsibilities. Advancing to an intermediate level, the medical–surgical nurse with experience becomes more skilled in developing individual and innovative care plans to meet client needs. Quite often medical-surgical nursing is the very first step that freshly licensed RNs will take during their careers, since jobs in bedside post-operative patient care are some of the most plentiful around. An ADN or BSN degree will be required. The Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (MS-RN) certification is granted via the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) which is affiliated with the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN), the American Nurses Association (ANA), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). But at the end of the day, they feel happy because they helped save a life or put a smile on someone’s face. The scrub nurse will be a sterile member of the team in surgery. These nurses work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. The role of the scrub nurse is to prepare and maintain the sterile field and assist the surgeon during the procedure with things like passing instruments, needles, and sponges. ■ Academy of Medical–Surgical Nurses (www.amsn.org) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SURGICAL WARD NURSE Monitor and report vital signs and medical information of the Patient . Many oversee pharmacy, radiology, quality/risk management, case management, volunteer services, and behavioral health. Order, interpret and evaluate diagnostics tests to identify and assess patient’s condition. New York, NY 10036, © 2020 Springer Publishing Company | Privacy Policy. In this role my duties included direct patient care in an active and diverse nursing unit. As a medical-surgical nurse, you will be confronted with a vast assortment of medical issues, diseases, and illnesses, all of which will require the close attention and advanced skill set of the MS-RN. Nursing care is directed toward alleviating physical and psychosocial health problems. The work of a surgical nurse entails various duties, tasks, and responsibilities in support of surgeons, and in caring for patients needing surgical procedures. 1. A few even include finance and payroll as part of their responsibilities. A surgical nurse, more correctly called a perioperative nurse, is a vital part of the surgical team. 5. The charge nurse accepts the responsibility for, and is accountable for, his/her own nursing practice. This publication delineates the professional scope and standards of Medical-Surgical Nursing practice. Medical-surgical nurses provide care to adults with a variety of medical issues or who are preparing for/recovering from surgery. ■ Knowledge of convalescence and rehabilitation requirements for patients ■ Excellent observation and assessment skills A vast set of skills – knowledgeable in all areas of adult health with excellent skills in assessment, organizational, technical, and prioritization. Roles and Function of a Nurse 1. ■ Skill in recording symptoms, reactions, and progress Medical-Surgical Nurses specialize in care across the entire age spectrum and the continuum of health care needs. The scrub nurse is a perioperative nurse who provides care in the operating room during surgery. The duties of a surgical nurse are going to be different from those of an operating nurse in most cases, and they will have to have different sets of skills. 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