Nursing is more than just a singular job title; it’s a diverse field that spans all different kinds of care. At UPMC, our nurses work across more than 20 clinical specialties and more than 50 specialty nursing roles. From Labor & Delivery to the Emergency Department, Home Health to the ICU, many of our nurses choose a unique specialty in nursing that calls to them.
But what’s the right nursing path for you if you’re not as interested in a niche or specialized field? What if you want to take care of a diverse spread of patients, and gain experience dealing with a wide variety of clinical issues? Medical-Surgical, or Med-Surg nursing could be right for you.
Med-Surg is the largest nursing specialty in the United States, according to the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. But because of its diverse and broad-ranging nature, it may also be one of the least understood. Med-Surg units care for patients with a variety of medical conditions, including but not limited to cardiac, pulmonary, orthopedic, transplant, and adaptable acuity units. Med-Surg nursing also takes place across a wide spectrum of care environments, from hospitals to outpatient settings to in-home care.
We asked our nurses to shed some light on what Med-Surg nursing means to them. Get to know Med-Surg nursing – in four words – from UPMC nurses!
"The Med-Surg floor is a good launching point because you get to experience so many things that you might not see in a specialty…I can always ask questions and learn from the people around me. That has been big for me, especially as a new grad who is early in my career."
— Angelika M., Professional Staff Nurse, UPMC Hamot
1. STIMULATING
Michelle, Sr. Professional Staff Nurse II, BSN, UPMC Presbyterian
“I find that caring for patients with chronic and ongoing health issues is equally clinically stimulating, as well as fulfilling. I enjoy caring for very sick patients, and it gives me a feeling of accomplishment knowing that I have positively impacted someone’s life. Also, I enjoy the change that this type of nursing brings every day. Even though I’m providing the same specialty of nursing on the same unit every day, the patients change and their care changes, which keeps my work interesting.”
2. REWARDING
Lindsey D., Sr. Professional Staff Nurse, UPMC Presbyterian
“The most meaningful part of my job is when I’ve taken care of a patient on multiple occasions, and they finally get listed on the liver transplant list. Caring for transplant patients is always a great part of the floor I work on, but on some occasions, I get to be the person that walks into their room and tells them that they are going to the Operating Room because they finally got a donor liver! 98% of the time the patient begins to cry and hug me, and that is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced.”
3. FOUNDATIONAL
Angelika M., Professional Staff Nurse, UPMC Hamot
“The Med-Surg floor gives you a great foundation for your career. It’s a good launching point because you get to experience so many things that you might not see in a specialty. You get to see a lot of different types of patients and deal with different systems, and it prepares you well for whatever you might do in the future. I also feel like I can always ask questions and learn from the people around me. That has been big for me, especially as a new grad who is early in my career.
4. FAST-PACED
Aleaha B., Professional Staff Nurse, UPMC Hamot
“In a Med-Surg unit, you have the highest patient acuity, and you have to know all your systems and disease processes. You have to be able to prioritize a wide range of patient illnesses, think critically, and act fast when a problem arises, because things can change very quickly.
I absolutely love my job and the floor I work on. We have a family-like bond and work efficiently as a team. The nurses on our floor are always willing to help each other out, and that’s especially important for a new nurse in a fast-paced environment. I love being a nurse and being able to make a difference in someone’s life. It’s that one little whispered ‘thank you’ or smile you put on a patient’s face that makes it all worth it to me.”
"We have a family-like bond and work efficiently as a team. The nurses on our floor are always willing to help each other out, and that's especially important for a new nurse in a fast-paced environment."
— Aleaha B., Professional Staff Nurse, UPMC Hamot
Choosing Med-Surg nursing at UPMC is a choice that will pay dividends: in the development of valuable nursing skills, in career growth and opportunity, and in rewarding patient moments. Plus, at UPMC we offer the possibilities and choices for you to build a Med-Surg nursing career that best fits you. With a wide variety of units focusing on specialties that interest you, to casual, part-time, and travel roles, to the My Nursing Career Ladder paving the way for your career advancement, there’s no limit to what you can find in Med-Surg nursing at UPMC.
