Medical surgical travel nurse career guide

Med-surg travel nurse career overview

Champions of organization, quick thinking, and prioritization.

According to the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, or AMSN, “medical-surgical nursing is the single largest nursing specialty in the United States and beyond.” It’s an incredibly fast-paced nursing discipline, and no two shifts are ever alike.

Here at Nomad, we work with traveling medical-surgical nurses all over the country, and help them find assignments in facilities and cities that excite them. If you're considering becoming a med-surg travel nurse, or just want to learn more about med-surg travel nurse jobs, our guide is here to help.

Med-Surg travel RN jobs with Nomad Health

At Nomad, we want to help our med-surg travel nurses grow their careers in ways that are meaningful to them. Due to its broad range of care, becoming a med-surg travel nurse is a great way to gain a lot of diverse medical experience, and we have a lot of experience working with them.

Our med-surg travel nurse jobs have a weekly pay package that ranges anywhere from $1,730 to $3,756 per week, which is an earning potential of roughly $48,828 for a 13-week assignment. Keep in mind that these numbers vary by state and facility type, but you can always access upfront salary information on our job boards.

Nomad is proud to offer our travel med-surg nurses a robust benefits package, which includes (but is not limited to) the following: medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with employer match after a year, malpractice insurance, travel reimbursement, stipend for housing and utilities, state license and certification reimbursement, and direct deposit payroll.

What is a med-surg travel nurse?

Medical-surgical travel nurses (also known as traveling med-surg nurses) are traveling nurses who provide care to adult and older adult patients with any number of acute medical conditions, or those who are preparing for or recovering from surgery. The range of care that traveling med surg nurses provide can be categorized into two different phases of perioperative nursing: preoperative (before surgery) and postoperative (after surgery).

The acuity of patients that traveling med-surg nurses care for has increased over the years primarily due to increasing age, comorbid conditions, and complications from COVID-19. As a result, these patients require close monitoring to promptly assess acute changes in patient condition and escalate early warning signs of patient deterioration.

Within the field of med-surg nursing, there are different types of subspecialties, including but not limited to:

• general surgery
• cardiac
• orthopedics
• gynecology
• thoracic

Medical-surgical nursing is a huge field with a lot of room for career growth and specialization, making it a popular choice for travel nurses.

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Medical-surgical travel nurse roles and responsibilities

The core responsibilities of medical surgical travel nurses are focused on the delivery of safe, patient-centered care. Care is based on the nursing process, a systematic approach and foundational framework. According to the American Nurses Association, there are five elements to the nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. A traveling med-surg professional is trained and ready to provide top-notch care within these parameters.

Assessing patients

The first step of the nursing process involves critical thinking skills and subjective and objective data collection. This could include: identifying alterations from baseline assessment, conducting risk assessments using evidence-based tools (ex: falls, pressure injury CIWA-Ar, Confusion Assessment Method), reviewing diagnostic test results and reporting abnormal findings to the provider, and prioritizing care among assigned patients.

Diagnosis formulation

Next, med-surg travel nurses formulate nursing diagnosis(es) by using clinical judgment to assist in the planning and delivery of patient care. You anticipate potential complications and prepare accordingly (ex: patient with seizures at risk for aspiration, ensure suction is set up and ready at the beginning of the shift). Med-surg travel nurses may also play an active role in planning goals and outcomes with patients and/or their family members, ensuring they are in line with evidence-based care.

Implementation

After planning comes implementation, which includes a tailored care plan(s) that’s in alignment with the medical plan, and takes into consideration the patient’s unique needs. Traveling med-surg nurses advocate for the patient, administer medications and evaluate the patient’s intended vs. unintended response(s), and communicate and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team. During this phase, med-surg nurses may admit patients, conduct transfers, or discharge patients home or to facilities, and lead and participate in bedside shift report(s).

There may be times when nurses change patient dressings and wound care, and times where they operate equipment (such as IV’s, feeding tubes, catheters, and oxygen tanks. Traveling med-surg nurses will educate patients and families on acute and chronic conditions, surgeries, medications, tests, potential complications, diet, injection administration, infection prevention, and discharge teaching. There will be shifts that require travel nurses to participate in emergency, life saving care, and others that involve end-of-life care.

Patient evaluation and reassessment

Finally, a traveling med-surg nurse might evaluate or reassess the patient's response to the care provided to determine if the desired outcome has been met. They will update plans based upon their patients’ overall condition or response, escalate concerns using nursing and medical chains of command, and document care provided.

Search medical surgical travel nurse jobs and find your next travel nurse destination.

Where do traveling medical-surgical nurses work?

Med-surg units are in hospitals, but traveling med-surg nurses might be able to manage the variety of patient care needs in different settings, including:

• hospitals
• outpatient settings
• homes
• clinics

The typical length of time for medical-surgical travel nurse jobs is 13 weeks, although it depends on the facility. Additionally, there are frequent opportunities to extend contracts. The typical shift for a medical-surgical travel nurse is anywhere from eight to 12 hours.

Why are patients admitted to a medical surgical unit?

The following are examples of specific illnesses and/or conditions within the various systems which cause patients to be admitted in med-surg units.

Neurological

Delirium, alzheimer’s disease, dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, seizures, parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Ear, nose, throat

Vertigo, laryngitis, and epistaxis.

Respiratory

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, pneumothorax, and pulmonary embolism.

Cardiac

Congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, and pericarditis.

Gastrointestinal

Colitis, diverticulitis, appendectomy, gastroesophageal reflux disease, pancreatitis, and cholititiasis .

Genitourinary / renal

Urinary tract infection (UTI), pyelonephritis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), acute renal failure, chronic kidney disease, and end stage renal disease.

Endocrine

Diabetes mellitus, hypo/hyperthyroidism, and Cushings’ disease

Peripheral vascular

Peripheral vascular disease, and peripheral neuropathy.

Integumentary

Pressure injuries, cellulitis, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Musculoskeletal / orthopedic

Hip/knee fractures, dislocations, replacement surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, and spinal fusion.

Psychosocial

Alcohol/drug withdrawal, suicide/homocidal ideation, depression, and anxiety.

Other common reasons for med-surg hospitalization

Prostatectomy, bariatric surgery, sepsis, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and falls.

Med-surg travel nurse certifications

Earning certifications is a way to demonstrate expertise in the med-surg specialty area. While some certifications are optional, some facilities may require them, so having them may increase your job options.

Medical Surgical Nursing Certification (RN-BC)

There are two primary med-surg certification options, the first of which is the Medical Surgical Nurse - Board Certified credential, or MEDSURG-BC from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, or ANCC. According to the ANCC website, this “examination is a competency-based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the medical-surgical specialty.” Make sure your certification is still valid and up to date; it may need to be renewed.

Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse (CMRRN)

The second widely respected med-surg certification is the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMRRN) credential from the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. Passing this competency-based examination is another excellent way to demonstrate your proficiency in the field.

Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

The NLC license allows the holder to practice in any NLC-participating state. While having this license is not required, it opens a lot of doors for travel nurses. This may give you a bit more flexibility to move around and take jobs in other states.

Basic Life Support (BLS)

The American Heart Association’s BLS certification is for any healthcare provider who may need to perform chest compressions or other cardiovascular life support skills in a medical setting. This is a Nomad Health required certification.

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

This certification is facility dependent. More advanced than a BLS, this American Heart Association certification is for healthcare providers that may participate in or manage cardiopulmonary arrest or cardiovascular emergencies on a regular basis.

Med-surg travel nurse pay

At Nomad Health, the average weekly pay for a travel med-surg nurse is $2,153, including travel stipend. There are a lot of factors that can influence this number, such as facility demand, industry rates, and more. On the higher end, a travel med-surg nurse at Nomad can make up to $3,477. The average hourly rate is $57, but goes as high at $83 an hour.*

While searching for jobs on Nomad Health, you can filter your search results by pay and even check out a transparent pay break-down, so you can find a job that matches your financial goals.

*Based on Nomad Health job data on December 19, 2023. Subject to change.

How do you become a medical-surgical travel nurse?

Step 1: Earn a college degree in nursing

Aspiring medical-surgical travel nurses can start by earning their Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), which is the minimum requirement to become a practicing nurse and takes about two years to complete.

Nursing students, or practicing nurses, can also go on to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which opens them up to broader disciplines and potentially higher compensation than with an ADN, and takes about four years to complete. Some hospitals require a BSN over an ADN, so make sure to do some research on the facilities you wish to work at.

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX

Next, future med-surg travel nurses have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX - RN). All nurses, traveling and non-traveling, are required to take and pass this exam.

Step 3: Work for at least two years as an RN

The next step to become a traveling med-surg nurse is to work as a registered nurse (RN) for two years, or get 2,000 hours of experience as a med-surg nurse. This particular requirement has a bit of flexibility; some healthcare facilities are looking for RNs with at least one year of medical-surgical experience, while some facilities may require two or more years of nursing experience with medical-surgical experience in the past three years. Medical-surgical nursing is often regarded as a solid foundation in a travel nurse's career, primarily due to the range of experiences an RN stands to gain and the opportunity to develop time management and prioritization skills.

Step 4: Consider additional nursing certifications

There are several optional certifications medical-surgical nurses can pursue if they want to travel, which will likely result in higher compensation. These respected certifications demonstrate commitment to the profession and knowledge in a specialty area. Nurses can go after their Medical Surgical Nursing Certification (RN-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), or the Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) accreditation from Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB). In addition to these certifications, medical-surgical travel nurses may also have the following: Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), National Institute of Health, Stroke Scale (NIHSS).

Step 5: Get licensed for the states you want to work in

Remember: To practice medical surgical nursing, RNs must have a valid, active state license in the state in which they are planning to work. This is especially important for traveling nurses who might practice in more than one state. One way travel nurses can have multiple licenses without actually having to procure individual licenses is the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). This compact license allows traveling nurses to work in their state and all compact states. For a compact license to be valid, the traveling med-surg nurse must have a permanent residence in a compact state.

Benefits and challenges of med-surg travel nursing

Being a travel med-surg nurse can be incredibly rewarding, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without its challenges.

Benefits

Growth and specialization opportunities

Medical-surgical nursing is a large field with a lot of opportunities for specialization, such as Med-Surg Telemetry, so you can pursue aspects that interest you the most. Medical surgical nursing is exciting, and no two shifts are the same. It’s rewarding, fast-paced, and you’ll build a wide range of skills.

Diverse job experience

By taking travel assignments, you might have the opportunity to go to different types of facilities and work with different patient populations. This may help build a well-rounded career, and make more room for advancement in the future.

Travel

Part of the fun of choosing travel nursing over staff nursing is traveling! You get to potentially explore new cities, make new work connections, and meet new people.

Challenges

Housing

While it’s exciting to move around the country taking different travel assignments, the process to find housing can be stressful. Make sure to check out Nomad’s housing guide, or chat with a Navigator if you have any questions or concerns.

On-the-job stress

Being a medical-surgical travel nurse can be intense; you will almost certainly find yourself in high-pressure situations where you need to make quick and important decisions.

Legal and ethical considerations for med-surg travel nurses

As with any other specialty, it is highly recommended to document assessments, interventions and care provided in real time. Review your documentation before you leave the shift to ensure it accurately explains what happened to the patient and how you provided care for them (evaluation) as well as communication with key team members.

Legal

A large legal factor to consider while looking for travel assignments is licensing. You must be licensed in the state you’re hoping to work in. The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is a multistate license that allows for more flexibility, as you can work in any jurisdiction that allows it. It’s an incredibly helpful license to have in your toolbelt as a travel nurse.

We believe in supporting our med-surg nurses to the very best of our ability. Nomad Health offers malpractice insurance, among other benefits, in case you ever need to access it.

Ethical

As a healthcare provider, it is almost inevitable that you’ll come face to face with multiple ethical dilemmas, sometimes daily. There may be times where your own personal ethics come into conflict with a patient’s wishes or situation. There are four main ethical principles when it comes to nursing, and they are incredibly important to uphold: autonomy, beneficence, justice, and nonmaleficence.

Autonomy speaks to a patient’s right to refuse a healthcare service, even if it’s what you or another provider recommends. As a nurse, it's important to equip the patient with education which includes the purpose, side effects and potential adverse outcomes. Also, explain how you plan on monitoring them. Beneficence represents making decisions to do good and minimize harm. The third concept, justice, is about all patients having the right to be treated fairly and equally. And finally, nonmaleficence, where healthcare providers do everything in their power to do no harm.

To learn more, head to the American Nurses Association website and read the Code of Ethics in Nursing.

Lifestyle considerations for med-surg travel nurses

There are a few things to consider when deciding if traveling is the right choice for you. At each new assignment, you’ll be meeting new people and learning new facility dynamics. What’s done at one facility may be different from another facility, so it’s important to stay agile, adaptable, and flexible. Your patient population may change as well from job to job, as well as patient ratios.

Outside of work, traveling can be lonely at times. You’re moving to new places where you might not know people. It’s helpful to stay in contact with your support system whenever possible. Some travel nurses will try to take assignments in pairs, so they have someone to find housing with, or travel with. If you’re used to living in a big city, and you take an assignment in a rural area, that can be a big transition. The same can be said for the other way around.

Professional development opportunities for med-surg travel nurses

Medical-surgical nursing is one of the most popular nursing paths. As you continue to learn and grow, you’ll find lots of opportunities to advance and specialize. Here are some ways to keep your healthcare career moving forward.

Continuous learning

The healthcare industry is always changing, so it’s important to stay up to date on the latest trends, requirements, and best practices. Med-Surg Nurse Life Magazine is a publication by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, and is described as a “lifestyle magazine with editorial, interviews, first-person stories, product reviews, events, fun snippets and lists, etc. for med-surg nurses to enjoy in their leisure time,” according to their website. Other great resources for traveling med-surg nurses include the American Nurses Association, Institute for Safe Medication Practices, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Advanced degrees and certifications

Advanced degrees may help you advance your career. As a travel nurse, having an advanced degree or certificate from an accredited program or school could lead to more job opportunities, as it could increase your hireability. Here are a couple of examples:

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Getting a Master of Science in Nursing demonstrates advanced expertise within the field. It generally requires that you already have a four-year bachelor’s degree, and takes about two to three years to complete.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The next step after a Master of Science in Nursing degree could be a Doctor of Nursing Practice. This is at the doctoral level of education and mastery and having it demonstrates a very high level of expertise in nursing.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

APRN is a category that includes Clinical Nurse Specialists. They represent an advanced group of nurses, and generally hold a Master’s degree or above.

Fellowships

Fellowships combine real hands-on experience with academic learning and mentorship. If you’re transitioning into med-surg nursing, a fellowship is a great middle step and could give you the skills to confidently work in the field.

Professional organizations

There are a number of professional organizations you can join as a med-surg nurse that offer educational resources, networking opportunities, and more. Here are a couple notable ones:

Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN)

A community of more than 10,000 med-surg nurses, AMSN is one of the main specialty organizations you can join. You’ll find professional development opportunities, certification routes, and advocacy resources.

American Nurses Association (ANA)

This is one of the largest nursing organizations and provides help and resources to a wide range of nursing specialties.You’ll find standard and advanced certification resources, educational content, and access to events.

Workshops, seminars and conferences

Stay up to date with the latest trends and practices in travel med-surg nursing by attending workshops or seminars. It’s a great way to network with other nurses or travelers, and could connect you to helpful resources.

Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses Annual Convention

Put on annually by AMSN, this multi-day convention brings together med-surg nurses from all over the country. See exciting speakers and learn about the latest developments and practices within medical-surgical nursing.

TravCon

TravCon is the largest conference specifically for traveling healthcare professionals. Attending is a great way to meet other travelers, and learn about the travel nursing industry.

Med-surg specialization areas

Medical-surgical nursing is one of the largest nursing specialties in the United States, and is currently the most popular specialization at Nomad Health. Due to its broad scope and wide range of skill sets required, there are a variety of subspecialties to choose within the field.

Med-surg telemetry

Travel med-surg nurses can specialize in telemetry, meaning they work primarily with patients with cardiopulmonary/neuro conditions that require cardiac monitoring.

Orthopedic

Experts of the skeletal and muscular system, med-surg nurses in an orthopedic setting work with a variety of patients, including those with broken bones or joint related conditions.

Support and resources for med-surg travel nurses

Nomad Navigators

At Nomad Health, we want to make sure you feel comfortable and confident while taking assignments with us. We have an entire team of expert Nomad Navigators on standby, ready to provide support if you ever need it. They have real clinical experience, and can provide guidance/coaching with challenging situations, education, and performance feedback.

Trends in med-surg travel nursing

According to the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses, med-surg is the largest nursing specialty in the United States. At Nomad Health, it is our largest in-demand specialty by far. As healthcare demands continue to rise, med-surg nursing roles will continue to play an important role in meeting those needs.

Med-surg travel nurse healthcare sources

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• RNspeak. (n.d.). OR nurse: Scrub vs circulating.
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• Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN). (n.d.). AMSN Annual Convention.
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• American Nurses Association (ANA). (n.d.). ANA.
• NurseJournal. (n.d.). Degrees - DNP
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• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Registered Nurses.