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AMSN History

Our Story

In 1990, the American Nurses Association conducted a survey regarding attitudes of nurses working in adult health areas toward membership in professional organizations.

The survey respondents said:
86% - there was no representative for medical-surgical nurses
82% - they were interested in exploring a membership organization for medical-surgical nurses

A proposal was created to develop an organization that would meet the rapidly changing needs of the medical-surgical nurse and be able to support education of the latest clinical trends. AMSN was born! This specialty group, formed by medical-surgical nurses, is a committed to achieving the highest level of clinical and professional performance that assures the public of the highest level of cost-effective, quality patient care by our membership.

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AMSN Steering Committee (Philadelphia, PA 1991)-Annette Levitt, MSN, RN, Beverly Ann McGuffin, MS, RN, Alice Poyss, PhD, RN, Cecelia Gatson Grindel, PhD, RN, Peggy Miller,  AMSN, RN, CS, Sally Brozenec, PhD, RN.

 

AMSN was formed to reach the "hidden and silent" heroes of tertiary care facilities – you!

Nursing has a rich past,and every nurse has a 'spark' that brought them to nursing. Look back on some of the sparks that got us to where we are as a profession, and learn about our AMSN founders' spark for a national association dedicated to medical-surgical nursing.

 

We’re proud of our history and are pleased to share a few selected highlights:

Milestones

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    1991

    The AMSN Steering Committee is formed

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    1992

    Co-Founder, Alice Poyss is inducted as the first president of AMSN during the First Annual Convention

  •  

    1993

    MEDSURG Nursing Journal is created; Marilyn Fetter serves as first editor

  •  

    1994

    Co-Founder, Cecelia Gatson Grindel, assumes the presidency – for the first time

  •  

    1999

    The AMSN Web Site, medsurgnurse.org is unveiled

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    2000

    November 1 is established as "Med-Surg Nurses Day"

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    2001

    Nurses Nurturing NursesTM Mentoring Program is introduced

  •  

    2002

    A med-surg nursing certification exam task force was formed and a blueprint was designed
    AMSN News is renamed MedSurg Matters!

  •  

    2003

    The first Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) exam is given  and 702 nurses earn the credential

  •  

    2004

    The AMSN Research & Scholarship Fund of the Nursing Economic$ Foundation is established

  •  

    2005

    Cecelia Gatson Grindel, AMSN's second president, begins a second term as President of the association – she is the only President to be elected to second term

  •  

    2006

    The AMSN Foundation kicks off fund-raising activities to match a $10,000 gift from Mike & Cece Grindel

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    2007

    Medical-Surgical Nurses Week, November 1-7, is established

  •  

    2010

    Compassion. Commitment. Connection. is introduced as the AMSN tagline

  •  

    2013

    MSNCB FailSafe certification program is introduced

  •  

    2014

    Collaborated with Dr. Marlene Kramer to recognize healthy practice environments in medical-surgical nursing units

  •  

    2015

    Developed the Clinical Leadership Development Program (CDLP) for clinical nurses at the bedside. Launched the CCCTM exam, the first certification for registered nurses primarily in a CCTM role.

  •  

    2016

    Happy 25th Anniversary!

  •  

    2017

    AMSN PRISM Award®️ is established

  •  

    2018

    Launched the AMSN Legislative Advocacy program

  •  

    2019

    Updated the AMSN brand and created a new logo

  •  

    2020

    AMSN host first ever virtual Annual Convention

  •  

    2021

    Competency Framework was developed

  •  

    2022

    Hybrid Annual Convention; Elevate Education Series (Behavorial Health, Clinical Leadership & DEI) is launched

  •  

    2024

    7th edition of Scope and Standards launches