Medical surgical (med surg) travel RNs are known for being skilled in a little bit of everything! It’s the largest nursing specialty in the U.S., which means demand is consistently high in various settings. This creates an abundance of well-paying med surg travel nursing jobs in exciting locations nationwide, with opportunities available in a variety of cities across the country.
If you’re a med surg RN, read on to learn more and explore nationwide travel nurse job opportunities.
Medical surgical nursing is a foundational specialty that is essential for patient care. It serves as an umbrella term for registered nurses who are not categorized under more specialized fields. Gaining experience in med surg is often a prerequisite for nurses looking to advance into other specialties within the profession.
Because this specialty is such a broad category, a career in travel nursing is a great way for you to avoid nurse burnout — the job is still very demanding, but the variety of locations and facilities can help keep you engaged and motivated. It’s also a great way to sharpen your skills, gain crucial experience, and improve your resume.
Medical surgical nurses — often viewed as the “backbone” of every healthcare facility — serve a vast array of patients. To succeed working in this specialty, you must be highly flexible and adaptable, great at multitasking, quick on your feet, work well within a multidisciplinary care team, and practice compassionate care. Many patients who are transferred from the ER or ICU move into the medical surgical unit, so it’s a fast-paced environment that can be highly reactive to surgical operations.
Med surg nurses also commonly have to take on many more patients than in other units. They’re regularly tasked with taking vitals, administering meds/pain control, wound care and dressing changes, and monitoring and assessing each patient’s condition. They’re also responsible for performing medical interventions and managing patients with a range of surgical conditions.
The overall goal in the med surg unit is to treat, observe, care for, and comfort the patient accordingly, depending upon the reason for their stay, and ultimately discharge them.
Medical surgical travel nurses typically earn higher pay than their permanent positions, due to the flexibility, adaptability, and experience required for travel assignments. Their ability to care for a wide range of patients in fast-paced hospital environments makes them valuable assets, especially in facilities facing staffing shortages. Compensation can vary depending on factors like location, facility demand, shift type, and level of experience. In addition to base pay, many travel contracts include housing stipends, travel reimbursements, and comprehensive benefits starting on day one.
When applying for a med surg travel nurse job, your resume is the first impression you make on potential employers, and it plays a crucial role in determining whether or not you get hired. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your resume meets certain requirements and effectively showcases your skills, experience, and qualifications. To become a medical surgical registered nurse, there are two common education paths to take, which are an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
ADN programs typically take two years to complete and focus on the basics of nursing, including anatomy, pharmacology, and patient care management. BSN programs, on the other hand, are four-year degree programs that offer a more in-depth education in nursing theory, research, leadership, and community health. Additionally, BSN graduates are often preferred by employers and may have more career advancement opportunities. After completing an ADN or BSN program, individuals must pass the NCLEX exam to obtain their RN license.
Licensure is an essential requirement to practice nursing in the United States. To obtain licensure, nurses must first complete an accredited nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). After passing the NCLEX-RN, nurses must also meet the state-specific requirements for licensure. This may include completing continuing education courses or submitting to a background check. For travel nurses, a multistate license through the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) can also streamline the process and expand your job opportunities. Make sure you verify individual state requirements before accepting a new med surg travel nurse job.
Maintaining up-to-date certifications is a priority to ensure high standards of patient care. Commonly required certifications include:
In addition, many healthcare facilities prefer RNs with advanced or specialized certifications such as:
Acquiring these credentials not only enhances your clinical skills and confidence but can also expand your opportunities when exploring med surg travel nurse jobs and improve your earning potential.
Before you take a med surg travel nurse job, facilities typically require a minimum of one to two years of recent, in-hospital experience. This is because travel nurses are expected to be highly skilled and adaptable professionals who can hit the ground running in new environments with minimal orientation. The experience gained from working in a hospital setting provides travel nurses with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality patient care in diverse and dynamic healthcare settings.
Due to the variety of challenges med surg RNs face on a daily basis, they must have or develop several skills. Coordinating care with other healthcare professionals and being able to clearly communicate about patient needs is vital to performance. Being able to balance many tasks, stay organized, and keep cool under pressure are all important skills. Additionally, travel med surg nurses must be adaptable, flexible, and able to acclimate quickly to new environments. They should also be able to work independently, take initiative, and be self-motivated, as well as have excellent time management and organizational skills to manage their schedules and assignments.
Patients can be in the medical surgical unit for a variety of reasons, including preparation for or recovery from a surgical procedure, getting specialized treatments/medications for a specific illness or disease (for example, diabetes, sepsis, renal failure), or for testing and observation.
Some common surgical procedures that might land someone in this unit can include, but are not limited to, gallbladder removal, appendectomy, hernia surgery, orthopedic surgery (like hip and knee replacements, for example), hysterectomy, colon surgery, and many more. Patients in these units are also likely to be suffering from multiple comorbidities.
As a med surg RN, you have the ability to work all over the country through travel nursing. High pay, great benefits, and the freedom to travel every 13 weeks are just a few of the reasons why travel nursing is a great idea. If you’re looking to improve your skillset, travel nursing provides endless opportunities. If you want to explore the United States, travel nursing is the way to go.
If you’re interested in earning more money in a shorter period of time, travel nursing could be the right choice for you. Medical Solutions partners with great facilities nationwide, so you’ll have opportunities to take on contract positions that align with your career goals.
A permanent nurse, often referred to as a staff nurse, is a registered nurse who is employed full-time at a healthcare facility rather than taking on various travel nursing assignments. While travel nursing offers RNs the opportunity to explore new locations and contribute to patient care across different communities, permanent nursing positions provide more stability. This stability allows nurses to establish themselves in a specific specialty and pursue career advancement within a single healthcare setting.
If you’re considering a permanent RN job, partnering with an agency like Medical Solutions can help you maximize your career potential. Apply today, and let our highly-rated recruiters support you in finding your ideal role among numerous exclusive permanent RN jobs at leading hospitals across the United States.
You deserve a partner you can trust who will help you accomplish your career goals—Medical Solutions is here to make it happen.
Are you a travel nurse looking for your next great career opportunity? Click here to explore med surg travel nurse jobs!
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