Navy
MEDICAL
Subspecialty

Officer Subspecialty

1910

Medical/Surgical Nursing

An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.

Description

Medical and surgical nursing provides bedside care for adults with illnesses, injuries, and conditions requiring procedures or hospitalization. The specialty combines assessment, treatment, recovery support, and patient education.

Core Skills

  • inpatient patient assessment
  • postoperative patient monitoring
  • medication administration
  • wound and drain management
  • clinical documentation
  • patient and family education
  • care plan coordination
  • early complication recognition
  • interdisciplinary handoff communication

Common Certifications

  • Registered Nurse (RN) License
  • Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification (MEDSURG-BC)
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider
  • Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)
  • Certified Case Manager (CCM)
  • Wound Care Certified (WCC)

Civilian Career Paths

  • NURSING
  • CLINICAL TECHNICIAN
  • REHABILITATION

Training & Development

Getting Started

  • Registered Nurse (RN) License
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider
  • Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification (MEDSURG-BC)

Career Growth

  • Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)
  • Certified Case Manager (CCM)
  • Wound Care Certified (WCC)
  • Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML)

Equivalent Roles in Other Branches

Data sourced from official Navy publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.