Growing up in a household where the medical field was ever-present, the sight of my mom, a nurse, coming home from her shifts at the hospital and the stories my aunt shared from her nursing career filled our family gatherings. Nursing felt like a natural path for me to follow. My older brother and I, deeply influenced by these strong women and our Nicaraguan heritage, embraced the calling to carry forward the values they instilled in us.
After earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the Goldfarb School of Nursing in St. Louis, Missouri, I began my career at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, working in the oncology unit. Starting a nursing career during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in an oncology unit with immunocompromised patients, was a test of resilience. The challenges were always present, but I was fortunate to have incredibly supportive coworkers who guided me through those tough times.
As a first-generation American, my Nicaraguan heritage profoundly influences how I care for patients, with a focus on family and community support. This background has instilled a sense of warmth and personal connection, ensuring every patient feels seen and cared for. These principles guide me daily from my early days on an oncology unit to my current role.
Two years into my time at Barnes-Jewish, I became interested in exploring the country beyond my hometown of St. Louis and growing from new experiences as a nurse. I began travel nursing contracts, first in Atlanta, Georgia, and then in Dallas, Texas. These opportunities opened my eyes to the diverse challenges and cultures within different hospitals and specialty care areas. This time was rewarding and enriching, though it came with its own set of difficulties, such as adapting to new environments. Despite these challenges, I always found support among my coworkers, and together, we managed to provide the best care possible for our patients.
After these contracts, like many nurses, I started to feel uncomfortable with the rigidity around hospital shift scheduling and wanted more control over my schedule. A year ago, I discovered ShiftMed, a platform that allows me to choose when, where, and how often I work, providing the ultimate flexibility. This approach helps manage burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. With ShiftMed, I can easily plan my schedule around personal events and travel. For instance, I can take a week off to visit Chicago or plan a two-week trip to the Philippines without any hassle or waiting to see if my request for time off was approved.
I work three 12-hour nursing shifts a week with ShiftMed at SSM Health in St. Louis. The platform’s flexibility means I can shift my workdays around my personal life, ensuring I don’t miss out on important events with family and friends. This control over my schedule has allowed me to travel more and buy my first home, which I just started moving into—a milestone I am incredibly excited about. I typically pick all my shifts a month in advance, allowing me to plan my life with certainty and ease.
Friends, family, and colleagues often ask me about working for ShiftMed, and I am curious how it all works. Many think it sounds too good to be true. They’re often surprised at the level of control and flexibility I have over my schedule. The scheduling platform lets me view available shifts well in advance and select those that best align with my life. This flexibility is a game-changer for managing the unpredictable demands of a nursing career. It also helps me prevent burnout, as I can adjust my schedule to ensure I get the breaks I need.
Recently, I had a family emergency and had to cancel a shift at the last minute, something I never do. The support and empathy I received during this time reaffirmed my decision to work with them. They understand that life can be unpredictable and are accommodating when emergencies arise. I was also able to embrace this flexibility when my grandmother fell ill, needing more of my time and attention. ShiftMed allowed me to adjust my schedule without the stress and guilt that typically accompany such personal challenges.
I’m also able to work across different hospital departments. I typically pick med-surg shifts but occasionally end up working in other units. This has allowed me to connect with numerous colleagues across various units at SSM Health. I have formed strong relationships with many staff members, and it’s heartwarming to be greeted wherever I go in the hospital. This sense of community and recognition is something I cherish deeply.
I am grateful for the growth and opportunities I’ve experienced throughout my career. This flexible approach to work has allowed me to balance my professional aspirations with my personal life, ensuring I provide the best care for my patients while living a fulfilling life outside of work.
As this week’s celebration of Medical-Surgical Nurses Week wraps up, Minority Nurse connected with a nurse leader who knows about the career path after more than two decades as a med-surg nurse.
Jennifer Kennedy, MSN, RN-BC, CMSRN, CNE, and a director on the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) Board of Directors, has spent most of her career as a medical-surgical nurse in roles as diverse as direct care provider to medical-surgical nurse educator. She also teaches med-surg nursing in a nursing program at George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams Bay, WI.
Here’s what Kennedy told Minority Nurse about med-surg nursing.
What makes this specialty so rewarding for nurses who choose it?
If you’ve ever been hospitalized or visited a patient in the hospital, the nurse who cared for you or your loved one was most likely a medical-surgical nurse.
Medical-surgical nursing is the single largest nursing specialty in the United States. Med-surg nurses practice primarily on hospital units and care for adult patients who are acutely ill with a wide variety of medical issues or are recovering from surgery. They provide care 24/7 and have more face time with patients than any other professional in the hospital.
Med-surg as a specialty is so appealing and rewarding because med-surg nurses are the master coordinators of the unit, juggling care for many patients at a time while keeping the entire health care team on the same page. They have high-level critical thinking skills, vast clinical knowledge, and are able to stay calm under pressure. Many nursing specialties require similar skill sets, but it is the intense level of coordination from the time patients arrive until after they leave the hospital that distinguishes med-surg nursing.
I personally feel med-surg nursing is so rewarding because of the relationships I develop with my patients and their families, as well as the ability to contribute to my patients’ comfort and recovery.
What are the biggest challenges facing medical-surgical nurses today?
At any moment, a med-surg nurse is juggling care for several patients–administering medications, educating families, discharging patients and admitting new ones, all while keeping the entire health care team on the same page.
As the go-to health care professional on the unit, the med-surg nurse needs high-level critical thinking skills, vast knowledge of disease states and body systems, robust management skills, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
Med-surg nurses are always in motion physically, clinically, intellectually, and emotionally. They are coordinating care around the clock.
Many nursing specialties require similar skill sets, but it is the intense level of coordination from the time patients arrive on the unit until after they leave – including post-discharge considerations like transportation and home health care – that distinguishes med-surg nursing.
There’s another unique aspect of the specialty: med-surg nurses are well educated in the workings of all body systems and are also familiar with a sweeping number of illnesses. They never know what complex disease states their next patient may have, thus they need to be ready and prepared for anything.
Once they have assessed and treated their patients, med-surg nurses then take it a step further, helping their patients achieve wellness and transition home safely and well-prepared.
If someone is interested in becoming a medical-surgical nurse, what kind of steps will help them get there?
Nurses who graduate with an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) are hired for medical-surgical positions quite often. However, a BSN is increasingly preferred, and continuing on to receive this degree after hire may be a condition of employment. Once you receive a nursing degree, you will be required to take a state licensure examination, the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Each state board of nursing provides the exam to determine whether or not a candidate is prepared for entry-level nursing practice. Once the individual has successfully completed the NCLEX exam, he or she is licensed as a registered nurse.
Newly graduated nurses will find internship/residency programs for the medical-surgical specialty at most hospitals. Internships involve a didactic component as well as a preceptorship with an experienced nurse to help new graduates transition into their new role.
In general, how can an organization like AMSN help med-surg nurses?
AMSN serves a community of medical-surgical nurses who care about improving patient care, developing personally and professionally, advocating for the specialty, and connecting with other nurses who share their compassion and commitment. Membership provides wide range of key and timely resources to help support med-surg nurses.
Along with education opportunities and an excellent annual convention, AMSN offers grants, scholarships and awards to support members. The association provides networking at the local, regional, and national levels, as well as in our online community, the AMSN Hub. There is also career guidance, volunteer, and leadership opportunities and member discounts on all products and services.
One of the greatest benefits AMSN has to offer is helping nurses become certified. We work in tandem with the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB), which offers the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) credential. Certification is important because it validates your expert, specialized knowledge, and enables you to maintain an innovative edge in your career. It really is one of the most positive and powerful achievements you will obtain during your nursing career.
Once you successfully pass the CMSRN exam, the confidence and satisfaction you gain by becoming certified allows you to demonstrate your professional commitment to promoting quality patient care. Employers notice this, increasing your earning power as well garnering respect from patients and colleagues.
AMSN welcomes med-surg nurses to become part of our community. Like most nurses, I started my med-surg nursing career as a new graduate. I learned very quickly that this is what I was meant to do. Med-surg nursing has provided me with an exciting career and a great amount of opportunities for growth.
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