Medical-Surgical Nurse with an ASN
Take the first step toward a career as a medical-surgical nurse with FVI’s ASN nursing program, featuring hands-on training, NCLEX-RN preparation, and personalized student support.
Campus Location
Miami, Miramar
Time to Complete
22 months
Degree Awarded
Associate of Science
Prepare for a Career as a Medical-Surgical Nurse with an ASN
FVI’s Associate of Science in Nursing program prepares you to pursue RN licensure and opportunities in medical-surgical nursing. Students receive classroom instruction, simulation practice, skills training, supervised clinical experience, and NCLEX-RN preparation.
Upon graduating, students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN. After passing the exam and meeting Florida licensing requirements, qualified nurses may pursue medical-surgical nurse positions based on employer requirements.
Nursing Knowledge
Receive instruction in patient care across common medical and surgical conditions, including pharmacology, health assessment, and core nursing concepts.
Clinical Judgment
Practice interpreting patient data, identifying changes in condition, and making informed nursing-care decisions.
NCLEX-RN Preparation
Prepare for the licensure examination required to pursue Registered Nurse opportunities in Florida after meeting applicable requirements.
Real-World Experience
Gain hands-on experience in off-site clinical settings while caring for patients and practicing nursing skills under supervision.
ACEN Accreditation
The nursing program at Miami and Miramar is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Skills and Simulation Labs
Practice nursing procedures and clinical decision-making through hands-on lab activities and realistic patient-care scenarios.
Faculty Mentorship
Receive personalized instruction and mentorship from nursing faculty who help you strengthen your clinical knowledge and nursing skills.
What Does a Medical-Surgical Nurse Do?
A medical-surgical nurse is a Registered Nurse who cares for hospitalized adults who need ongoing treatment and monitoring but do not require intensive care. These patients may be recovering from surgery, being treated for an acute illness, or managing a condition that requires a hospital stay.
Medical-surgical nursing is the largest nursing specialty in the United States. Because med-surg units care for patients with many different diagnoses, nurses build broad clinical skills and must be able to manage several patients and treatment plans at the same time.
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Assess patient vital signs, symptoms, and overall health status
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Administer oral and intravenous (IV) medications
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Manage wound care, surgical dressings, catheters, and IV lines
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Educate patients and families about recovery and care after discharge
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Coordinate treatment plans with physicians and other healthcare professionals
Most patients admitted to a hospital spend time on a medical-surgical floor, which is why this specialty is often called the foundation of hospital nursing. Specific duties depend on the facility, unit, patient population, employer policies, and the nurse’s experience.
What Is It Like to Work in Medical-Surgical Nursing?
Medical-surgical nursing is fast-paced, demanding, and highly team-oriented. Nurses may care for four to six patients at a time, each with different diagnoses, medications, and discharge needs. Most med-surg positions involve 12-hour shifts, and because hospital units operate around the clock, nurses may work days, nights, or weekends.
Priorities can change quickly. A new admission may arrive while another patient is being discharged, a call light may need an immediate response, or a patient’s condition may suddenly change. Med-surg nurses have to stay organized, reassess priorities, and keep care moving across several patients at once.
Medical-surgical nursing can help develop strong time-management, critical-thinking, and clinical skills. The experience can also provide a foundation for nurses who later pursue specialties such as intensive care, ER, or other areas of nursing.
The heavy workload can be stressful for some, but nurses who thrive in high-activity environments often find the role engaging and valuable for long-term growth.
Where Can a Medical-Surgical Nurse in Florida Work?
Medical-surgical nurses work primarily in hospitals and inpatient healthcare facilities. Possible work settings include:
- General medical-surgical hospital units
- Surgical recovery and post-operative units
- Telemetry and step-down units
- Orthopedic units
- Oncology units
- Rehabilitation hospitals
- Long-term acute care hospitals
- Ambulatory surgical centers
Available positions and qualifications vary by healthcare employer.
Medical-Surgical Nurse Salary and Job Outlook in Florida
Demand in Florida continues to grow for Registered Nurses across hospitals and other healthcare settings, including medical-surgical units. For students considering this career, that growth means the job outlook is positive once you earn your RN license.
Important: FVI’s ASN program prepares graduates for entry-level nursing positions. Entry-level wages are typically below the national median. Salary outcomes vary based on employer, location, experience, and other factors.
Florida’s need for Registered Nurses is also expected to remain strong. The Florida Center for Nursing projects that RN demand across the state will grow significantly by approximately 26% between 2022 and 2037.
For prospective students, these numbers point to continued job opportunities in hospital settings, where the majority of medical-surgical nursing positions are based.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- The median annual wage for Registered Nurses was $93,600 in May 2024
- RNs working in hospitals earned a median of $97,260
- RN employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034
- About 189,100 RN job openings are projected nationwide each year, on average, during that period
Salary figures are for registered nurses generally and are not entry-level or ICU-specific estimates. Employment and earnings are not guaranteed.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses
Is Medical-Surgical Nursing Right for You?
Working as a medical-surgical nurse takes organization, adaptability, and the ability to care for patients with a wide range of conditions and recovery needs.
Medical-surgical nursing may be a good fit if you:
- Like variety: You want to care for patients with different diagnoses, treatments, and recovery needs.
- Work well with a team: Med-surg units depend on close coordination with nurses, physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
- Handle changing priorities well: You can stay organized when admissions, discharges, medications, and patient needs shift quickly.
- Want broad bedside experience: The role can build clinical judgment and time-management skills that may help with future nursing specialties.
- Enjoy seeing patients improve: You value helping patients recover, stabilize, and move toward discharge.
If this sounds like you, an ASN degree is a practical place to start. It provides the nursing education and clinical experience needed to pursue RN licensure and begin applying for entry-level Registered Nurse opportunities.
How FVI Prepares You for a Career as a Medical-Surgical Nurse
FVI’s ASN program combines classroom instruction with skills labs, simulation, and supervised clinical experiences to help students prepare for entry-level nursing jobs.
Students receive instruction and practice in areas directly relevant to working as a hospital nurse, such as:
Patient Assessment
Evaluate patients with a range of conditions, identify changes in their status, and communicate findings to physicians and the care team.
Clinical Judgment
Prioritize care across a varied patient assignment and determine when a change requires immediate action.
Medication Administration
Prepare and administer medications safely, including IV therapy and dosage calculations.
Communication
Explain diagnoses, treatment plans, and discharge instructions clearly to patients and their families.
Documentation
Maintain accurate medical records, care plans, and treatment notes throughout each shift.
Pre- and Post-Operative Care
Monitor patients before and after surgical procedures and recognize early signs of complications.
Wound care and Infection Control
Follow protocols for wound management, dressing changes, and preventing the spread of infection.
Professionalism
Provide compassionate, ethical care while maintaining patient privacy and safety.
FVI’s nursing faculty brings clinical experience in medical-surgical nursing, telemetry, emergency care, and other hospital settings into the classroom. Students also work with Success Coaches and tutors who provide mentoring and individualized guidance. Career services support is available to students as they prepare to enter the workforce.
The curriculum follows the NCSBN NCLEX-RN Blueprint, with NCLEX-RN preparation built into coursework throughout the program.
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Ready to start your journey at FVI?
Accreditations and Partnerships
The Associate of Science in Nursing programs at FVI’s Miami and Miramar campuses are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). FVI School of Nursing and Technology is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
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Testimonials
Hear What Our ASN Nursing Graduates Are Saying
Real-World Nursing Training for Medical-Surgical Care
FVI’s ASN program includes hands-on training designed to help students connect classroom instruction with nursing care in clinical environments.
Simulation
Work through realistic patient-care scenarios that develop clinical judgment, communication, prioritization, and responses to changes in patient condition.
Skills Labs
Practice core nursing procedures in a controlled setting, including patient assessment, medication administration, infection control, and safe patient care.
Off-Site Clinical Rotations
Complete supervised clinical rotations in professional healthcare settings, providing nursing care to patients alongside healthcare teams at Memorial Healthcare System, HCA Florida, Holy Cross Hospital, and other partners.
Clinical experiences vary by site and assignment, and students are not guaranteed placement on a medical-surgical unit. FVI’s ASN program is designed to build broad nursing skills that can apply across many hospital settings.
How to Become a Medical-Surgical Nurse in Florida
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Complete a Nursing Degree
Begin by earning an Associate of Science in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. FVI’s ACEN accredited 22-month ASN nursing program that combines classroom instruction, skills and simulation labs, supervised clinical experience, and NCLEX-RN prep.
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Take the NCLEX-RN and earn your Florida RN license
After graduating, qualified graduates may be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN, the national licensure examination for Registered Nurses. FVI’s ASN program includes NCLEX-RN preparation throughout the curriculum.
RN licensure requires passing the NCLEX-RN and meeting Florida Board of Nursing requirements. Completing a nursing degree alone does not provide RN licensure.
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Apply for Medical-Surgical Nursing Positions
Once licensed, you can look for medical-surgical RN positions that match your education and qualifications. Medical-surgical nursing can be an early-career path for Registered Nurses, although individual employer requirements vary.
The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses describes the field as offering newly qualified RNs exposure to a broad range of nursing experience.
Earning an ASN and obtaining RN licensure does not guarantee employment or placement in a medical-surgical unit.
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Complete Employer Orientation and Training
Newly hired nurses generally complete orientation and unit-specific training before working independently. Training requirements vary by hospital and medical-surgical unit.
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Continue Building Medical-Surgical Experience
Medical-surgical nursing can provide a broad clinical foundation that may help nurses move into areas such as intensive care, emergency nursing, travel nursing, or other specialties as they gain experience and meet employer requirements.
Ready to Get Started?
Study Nursing in Miami or Miramar
FVI offers its 22-month Associate of Science in Nursing program at two South Florida campuses.
Miami Campus
FVI’s 25,839-square-foot Miami nursing school campus is located at Midway Crossing Mall on West Flagler Street in Miami, serving students in Miami-Dade County and surrounding communities.
Miramar Campus
FVI’s 29,984-square-foot Miramar nursing school campus is located on Enterprise Way, serving students in Broward County and surrounding communities.
Start Your Path Toward a Career as a Registered Nurse
FVI’s 22-month ASN program combines nursing coursework, skills and simulation labs, supervised clinical experience, and NCLEX-RN preparation. Graduates who meet licensure requirements may pursue entry-level RN opportunities in hospitals and other healthcare settings, including medical-surgical nursing. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
Graduation does not guarantee employment or licensure. RN licensure requires passing the NCLEX-RN and meeting Florida Board of Nursing requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you become a medical-surgical nurse with an ASN?
Yes. A Registered Nurse who has earned an ASN may pursue medical-surgical nursing positions. You must first graduate, pass the NCLEX-RN, and meet Florida Board of Nursing requirements to obtain your RN license.
Hiring standards vary by employer. While some hospitals hire newly licensed ASN-prepared nurses into medical-surgical units, others may require job candidates to have additional experience or a bachelor’s degree.
Do you need a BSN to work in medical-surgical nursing?
A BSN is not universally required for medical-surgical nursing. Both ASN and BSN graduates may pursue RN licensure after passing the NCLEX-RN and meeting applicable state requirements.
Some hospitals may prefer or require a BSN for certain positions. Applicants should review individual job postings and employer requirements.
Is medical-surgical nursing an entry-level RN career?
It can be. Medical-surgical nursing provides experience caring for patients with a broad range of conditions, making it one potential path for newly licensed Registered Nurses. The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses notes that the specialty’s broad scope can appeal to newly qualified RNs seeking varied nursing experience.
Employer requirements vary, and earning an ASN or RN license does not guarantee placement in a medical-surgical unit.
What does a medical-surgical nurse do during a typical shift?
A medical-surgical nurse may assess patients, perform chart reviews and patient rounding, administer medications, provide treatments, monitor changes in condition, coordinate care, educate patients, and document nursing care.
The nurse may care for several patients with different diagnoses and treatment plans during the same shift. Exact responsibilities vary by facility, unit, employer, and scope of practice.
What skills does a medical-surgical nurse need?
Medical-surgical nurses need skills that help them manage several patients with different care needs at the same time:
- Prioritization: Decide which patient needs attention first as conditions and care plans change.
- Time management: Keep medications, treatments, assessments, and discharges moving on schedule.
- Clinical judgment: Recognize when a patient is improving, declining, or developing a complication.
- Postoperative monitoring: Watch for pain, bleeding, infection, and other changes during recovery.
- Discharge planning: Prepare patients and families to continue care safely after leaving the hospital.
- Care coordination: Keep physicians, therapists, nursing staff, and other team members aligned on each patient’s plan.
How long is FVI’s ASN program?
FVI’s Associate of Science in Nursing program is designed to be completed in 22 months. Program completion time may vary based on transfer credits, academic progress, scheduling, and other individual circumstances.
Does FVI prepare students for the NCLEX-RN?
FVI’s ASN curriculum includes NCLEX-RN preparation, clinical judgment exercises, nursing instruction, skills practice, simulation, and student services designed to help students prepare for the exam.
The program is designed to prepare qualified graduates to take the NCLEX-RN. FVI cannot guarantee that a graduate will pass the examination or receive RN licensure.
How do I apply to nursing school today?
FVI offers rolling admissions with multiple start dates throughout the year, making it easy to begin when you’re ready. Our admissions team is here to walk you through every step—from application to enrollment. To apply, simply contact an FVI Admissions Specialist who will help determine your eligibility and guide you into the program that’s right for you.
Prospective ASN Nursing Student Resources
Becoming a Nurse
- What Is the Shortest Path to Becoming a Nurse?
- How Long Does it Take to Become an RN in Florida?
- Can I Become a Nurse If I Already Have a Degree?
- Switching Careers to Nursing: What You Need to Know
- Nursing Program for Foreign Medical Graduates & Physicians – ADN Program
- Can You Do Nursing School While Working Full Time?
