Medical-surgical nursing requires a vast set of skills and knowledge in regards to all areas of adult health. Patients have diverse diagnoses across all medical disciplines and medical-surgical nurses often serve many patients at one time. Patients under the care of medical-surgical nursing may include the elderly, critically ill patients and those suffering from conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or hypertension. The patients are usually under the care of the medical-surgical nurse for a short period of time. One capacity where a medical-surgical nurse might serve is caring for a post-operative recovering patient and teaching about how to retain their independence and self-care after discharge.

The medical-surgical nurse will assess, diagnose, and administer care for a patient. He/She will also medicate, document, research, educate, communicate with the family and other health care professionals, and serve as patient advocate. The medical-surgical nurse is often part of a team that provides multidisciplinary care for the patient. Other professionals that the medical-surgical nurse works and coordinates with are physicians, pharmacists, technicians, social workers and therapist.

FACULTIES