Medical Surgical Nursing:
Medical Surgical Nursing refers to the nursing care of adults who have an actual or potential disorder of physiological functi~n. The practice of Medical Surgical Nursing has traditiollally been synonymous wit11 acute care hospital nursing. Indeed, in the past virtually all Medical Surgical Nurses worked for hospitals. The purpose of Medical Surgical Nursing, sometimes called adult nursing, is to promote health and prevent illness in people fioin 18 to over 100 years of age. Nurse who practice Medical Surgical Nursing are generalists who must have a broad knowledge base to meet the needs of clients in a variety of health care settings. Rapid advances in technology, exponential increases in knowledge, and dramatic changes in the health care delivery system require that Medical Surgical Nurses use expert critical thinking skills to provide complex, holistic client care.
Although most nurses are still employed in acute care settings, no trend in Medical Surgical Nursing practice is more pervasive than the reality of constant change. The health care industry around the globe has been and will continue to undergo rapid and profound change. This pattern will not slow or halt and Medical Surgical Nursing practice must develop the ability to respond more quickly and effectively to these rapid changes.