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Medical-Surgical Nursing

Introduction

Medical-Surgical NursingIntroduction
A person sits in a chair with their right arm extended on an armrest. Another person ties a band onto their arm above the elbow.
Figure 1.1 Medical-surgical nurses care for a variety of patients in many different settings. (credit: modification of work “All of Us Participant” by NIH Image Gallery/Flickr, Public Domain)

Chapter Outline

1.1 Professional Nursing Practice
1.2 Intercollaborative Care
1.3 Health Policy and Ethical Considerations
1.4 Evidence-Based Practice
1.5 Health-Care Delivery Systems
1.6 Systems-Based Practice
1.7 Technology and Informatics

Medical-surgical nursing has become one of the largest nursing specialties. Medical-surgical nurses provide care for adult patients of all ages who are preparing for or recovering from surgery, as well as for patients with complications related to a variety of long-term illnesses. Nursing care incorporates a diverse patient population and a variety of disease processes, enabling medical-surgical nurses to apply a broad knowledge base and become experts in their field. Medical-surgical nurses also develop advanced organizational and prioritization skills, as well as strong assessment and communication skills. They are the leaders who coordinate patient care among the interdisciplinary team.

Medical-surgical nursing is practiced in a variety of settings within the health-care industry. Inpatient settings include hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and long-term care facilities. Outpatient settings include clinics, same-day surgery centers, other nontraditional settings, and patients’ homes. For this reason, the medical-surgical field offers many options where nurses can choose to practice.

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