Celebrating Medical-Surgical Nursing as a Specialty Needs to Start in Nursing Schools
Recently, I had a meaningful conversation with my cousin about his daughter, Olivia, now entering her third year of nursing school at Endicott College in Massachusetts. Olivia’s passion for becoming a neonatal ICU nurse is inspiring, yet her father remarked on how much she genuinely enjoyed working with adults and geriatric patients — even as she kept her eyes on neonatology. He admitted, “That other unit — medical-surgical — is really hard.” I wholeheartedly agreed, but I emphasized how crucial it was for Olivia to have these experiences while in school.
I reminded him that for most adults — like him — if they ever need hospitalization, they are likely to be admitted to a medical-surgical unit. That is where highly skilled, compassionate nurses care for patients with some of the most common medical problems like diabetes, pneumonia, and abdominal and musculoskeletal conditions. And nursing programs typically have most of the didactic and clinical content focused on the care of the medical-surgical patient.
Olivia Reguin, student nurse, standing in front of Massachusetts General Hospital
Nursing Programs Must Support the Messaging and Identity of the Medical-Surgical Nurse
It is time to reframe the narrative: The conversation about med-surg nursing as a specialty must begin in pre-licensure programs, not as a default placement but as a career path that is both long-lasting and deeply rewarding. Medical-surgical nursing is the largest nursing specialty in the country, spanning settings from hospitals to homes, and encompassing the care of a uniquely diverse patient population. To excel, med-surg nurses develop advanced organization, critical thinking, and clinical assessment skills.
Many of our greatest nurse leaders began their journeys on the med-surg unit. It is the place where nurses master communication, time management, and clinical expertise — skills that remain fundamental for nurse leaders at every level. The clinical challenges and teamwork required produce nurses who are resilient, adaptable, and capable of thriving amid the evolving healthcare landscape. These nurses excel in hospitals, virtual care settings, hospital-at-home programs, and in new care models yet to be designed.
All the experiences Olivia is having in nursing school will prepare her to be the nurse that anyone would hope for in any specialty. I am rooting for her to find her niche in nursing, in work in a specialty that aligns with her skill set and where she finds fulfillment, while keeping the knowledge that careers are long, and her interests and work preferences will change over time. More importantly, I hope she finds a community of nurses outside of her place of employment, like the one here at AMSN, for support and camaraderie along the way.
Medical-Surgical Nurses Week
Each Nov. 1–7 is Medical-Surgical Nurses Week, and AMSN is helping to shine a spotlight on this largest and most diverse nursing specialty, honoring those who care for adult and geriatric patients across all settings. The first official Med-Surg Nurses Day was introduced in 2000 to affirm medical-surgical nursing and emphasize the specialty within the profession. Since then, it has evolved into a week-long celebration that highlights pride, advocacy, and visibility — encouraging nurses to celebrate their shared expertise, educate their peers and colleagues, and recognize their contributions to the public through their work.
Med-Surg Nurses Week reinforces awareness and appreciation for this specialty, reminding healthcare organizations and the public that medical-surgical nurses form the backbone of hospital care. By celebrating their work annually, we drive sustained recognition of med-surg as both a deeply skilled specialty and a cornerstone of nursing excellence.
Happy Medical-Surgical Nurses Week to you! I hope you have a chance to celebrate!
Let AMSN help you celebrate with these links!
- Med-Surg Nurses Week landing page, featuring ways to celebrate and a celebration kit.
- 2025 Med-Surg Nurses Week Celebration Kit, featuring a sample email, customized email signature, social media posts and graphics, web banners, posters, thank you cards, a coloring sheet, cupcake toppers, and stickers!
As always, reach out an let me know what you think at President@amsn.org.