Why is med/surg nursing so hard? (2024)

This question is about registered nurse med/surg jobs.

By

Zippia Team

- Nov. 2, 2021

Med/surg nursing is hard because it is a fast-paced environment with high stakes. New nurses may struggle to adjust to this role because they recognize how critical their work is but cannot keep up with the pace.

Additionally, many nurses go into their new role with the idea that they need to know absolutely everything there is to know. While a nurse in med/surg does need to be an expert at what they do, it is not necessary to know everything right away.

Med/surg is also challenging because it does not have the same kind of support systems that other nursing roles have access to. This means that med/surg nurses need to have a much sharper assessment and response skills than critical care nurses because they do not benefit from essential care nurses' monitors and equipment.

Medical/surgical nursing is not for the faint of heart. The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses relates the unique characteristic of these practitioners is playing the role of master coordinator, remaining calm while juggling many patients, and orchestrating care among many healthcare disciplines and nursing personnel.

They become adept at assessing multiple body systems, often without the safety net of technology.

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Why is med/surg nursing so hard? (2024)

FAQs

Why is med-surg nursing class so hard? ›

Med-surg is challenging because of the vast content, detailed information, and more abstract information that needs to be learned.

How to answer med-surg nursing questions? ›

Test-taking tips for Med-Surg Nursing. As you read the question, cover up the multiple choice options. Try to answer the question on your own first. For example, if a question asks about manifestations of acute kidney injury, try and come up with a list of possible answers before uncovering the actual options.

Is med-surg the hardest unit? ›

Yes, med-surg is difficult, for SURE! There's a lot you need to know and study, and it requires a lot of dedication and time. But often times I see students making it 10 times harder than it needs to be just because they're so stressed, worried, and anxious about it.

Is med-surg nursing easy? ›

It's also thought of as more strenuous than other specialties, given med-surg nursing requires a broad range of knowledge to care for patients who may have very different conditions and needs. Putting a more positive light on the specialty's reputation requires a shift within the nursing field itself, leaders say.

What is the hardest class in nursing? ›

Lynch notes that pharmacology is one of the most difficult classes for nursing students, but is essential to patient care. According to the FDA, there are over 20,000 prescription drug products approved for marketing.

What is the hardest unit in nursing school? ›

What is the Hardest Class in Nursing Courses?
  • A&P Class (1&2) Nursing professors expect you to know more than what was covered in high school about human anatomy & physiology. ...
  • Organic Chemistry. Find organic chemistry solutions here. ...
  • Pathophysiology. ...
  • Pharmacology. ...
  • Medical Surgical 1 (Adult Health 1) ...
  • Evidence-Based Practice.

What score do you need to pass med-surg? ›

Here are the pass scores: MEDSURG-BC: You need a minimum score of 350 out of 500 to pass. The pass rate for this examination is 81%. CMSRN: You'll need to score 95, which is about 71% accuracy, to pass.

Is med-surg the hardest nursing class? ›

Med surg nursing is one of the hardest topics to learn in nursing school. There are so many different diseases and disorder to know, and it is so difficult to figure out what information is important and what isn't. You don't want to waste your time studying the wrong things that aren't going to be on your exams.

What is your greatest strength as a medical surgical nurse? ›

Examples of nursing strengths
  • Communication.
  • Empathy.
  • Flexibility.
  • Attention to detail.
  • Endurance.
  • Problem solving.
Apr 23, 2024

What is the hardest nursing exam in the world? ›

The National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, is a critical exam that every nursing student must take to become a licensed nurse. Passing the NCLEX is essential to begin your nursing career, but it is also one of the most challenging exams you will ever take.

Is med-surg harder than ICU? ›

In terms of work intensity, both have their challenges. ICU nursing can be intense due to the severity of patients' conditions and the need for swift responses to rapid changes. Med-Surg nursing, while less acute, can be demanding due to the high patient volume and broad range of conditions to be managed.

How to study for med-surg final exam? ›

How to Study for Med Surg with a Test Bank
  1. Study the question formats. Test questions can come in a variety of different formats, including: ...
  2. Pay attention to the topics covered. Pay close attention to the nursing concepts that are most likely to appear on the exam. ...
  3. Analyze correct answers. ...
  4. Time yourself.
Apr 6, 2022

Why is working in med-surg so hard? ›

— working as a med-surg nurse will definitely expose you to some fast-paced and stressful situations. Nurses in this specialty often handle multiple patients simultaneously, prioritizing the needs of their patients and making critical decisions quickly.

Are med surg nurses happy? ›

There's a lot to be said about working as a med-surg nurse: there's high job satisfaction in this specialty for many reasons. No two days will be the same. With so many patients coming in and out with different illnesses or surgeries planned, you'll work with all kinds of conditions.

What is the easiest nurse to be? ›

8 Easiest Nursing Jobs
  • School Nurse. Average Annual Salary (April 2024): $51,500. ...
  • Nurse Educator. Average Annual Salary (April 2024): $84,000. ...
  • Primary Care Nurse. ...
  • Informatics Nurse. ...
  • Clinical Research Nurse. ...
  • Occupational Health Nurse. ...
  • Lactation Consultant Nurse. ...
  • Home Care Registered Nurse.

How hard is med surg nursing class? ›

Because of the breadth of skills required, as well as what is often a heavy patient load, med-surg is considered one of the most challenging nursing fields. Med-surg nursing is an acute care area, meaning that patients in med-surg are sick enough to warrant hospital-based interventions.

What is Med Surg Nursing class like? ›

Medical-surgical nursing is one of the first classes that nursing students' encounter where it requires them to apply everything they've learned in pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment together. This class deals with disease processes and how a nurse provides care to that specific patient.

What is Med Surg Nursing class about? ›

Despite its popularity, many people don't fully understand what med surg nursing is. Med surg stands for medical-surgical nursing. This type of nursing focuses on providing care for adults who are either preparing for, or recovering from, a surgical procedure.

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