Scope and Standards

Know Your Responsibilities as Medical-Surgical Nurse

Scope and Standards of Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice, 6th edition
 

Cover Image of the Scope and Standards Textbook

This publication delineates the professional scope and standards of Medical-Surgical Nursing practice. It describes the responsibilities and competent level of behavior expected of all Registered Nurses practicing in the specialty of Medical-Surgical Nursing, regardless of the setting. View What is Med-surg Nursing?

The Scope and Standards provide a guide to understand the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and judgment that are required for practicing safely in the Medical-Surgical setting. These standards provide the details of what is expected in this specialty of care and help other members of the professional team understand the role of the Medical-Surgical Nurse.

This publication could serve as the basis for job descriptions, performance appraisals, peer review, quality assurance systems, certification activities, databases, and educational offerings.

Use the Scope and Standards as the basis for:

  •  Job descriptions
  •  Performance appraisals
  •  Peer reviews
  •  Quality assurance systems,
  •  Certification activities
  •  Databases,
  •  Educational Offerings

This publication highlights the emerging roles of Medical-Surgical Nurses, including the promotion of exemplary nursing practice, scholarly activity with dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines, and a commitment to promotion of continuing education for self and others.

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Acknowledgments

The Scope and Standards of Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice, 6th edition, was revised by the Scope and Standards 6th Edition Task Force of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) whose members practice as Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and Registered Nurses (RN) in a variety of Medical-Surgical settings and geographic locations. The document was reviewed by Medical-Surgical Nurses throughout the country. The standards were then approved by the AMSN Board of Directors. Appreciation is extended to our editors and reviewers, and especially the individuals listed on page 2 for their expertise, dedication, and commitment to producing this revised Scope and Standards for Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice.

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