AMSN & MSNCB

10/23/2026

Nurses are often described as the “backbone of healthcare.” Alfonzo Robinson, PhD, MS, RN, NE-BC, reflects on the many ways that nurses are more than the backbone and why they should be at the forefront of shaping the healthcare systems they are continually asked to sustain.

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I first heard the phrase years ago in the Army: “Noncommissioned officers (NCOs) are the backbone of the Army.” Later, as a nurse and nurse leader, I heard a version of it again and again: Nurses are the backbone of healthcare. The phrase was always meant as a compliment. It conveyed trust, reli...

10/23/2026

Celebrate the specialty by investing in yourself. Join fellow medical-surgical nurses for two live learning opportunities during Med-Surg Nurses Week.

📚 On Monday, Nov. 2, attend "EBP: It Doesn't Have to Be Scary" and earn 1 contact hour while exploring practical strategies to make evidence-based practice more approachable. This webinar is free for AMSN members! https://library.amsn.org/course/info.php?id=621

💻 On Thursday, Nov. 5, join the 2026 AMSN Virtual Summit and earn up to 5 contact hours while learning about mentorship, patient safety, quality improvement, unit culture, delirium prevention, and more. https://2026-amsn-virtual-summit.events.amsn.org/

Together, these events offer up to 6 contact hours and fresh ideas you can bring back to your practice.

10/22/2026

Ready to take the next step in your certification journey? The updated CMSRN® and CAVRN® Candidate Handbooks are now available, with the latest information on eligibility, applications, exam policies, and more.

📘 CMSRN Resources: https://www.msncb.org/CMSRN/Resources
📘 CAVRN Resources: https://www.msncb.org/CAVRN/Resources

10/21/2026

The new AMSN Medical-Surgical Nursing Practice Competency Framework Toolkit gives nurse leaders a validated, evidence-based way to assess competency across more than 400 medical-surgical nursing task statements. Use the framework to identify development opportunities, strengthen competency evaluations, and support workforce planning with meaningful data.

💙 Built specifically for medical-surgical nursing.
📈 Designed to support professional growth and better patient outcomes.

Invest in the development of your nurses now: https://amsn.org/Education/Competency-Framework

10/20/2026

In the latest episode of , we explore the rise of infectious diseases and the critical role nurses play in preventing transmission. Tune in for insights on reducing the spread of infection and staying prepared in an evolving healthcare landscape.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dfvuZH4VOKb923xAEQow3?si=3L3NaSuhT7K-vklBBMlecQ
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-188-the-rise-of-infectious-diseases/id1452005187?i=1000797273660

10/19/2026

In the latest CMSRN Certification Spotlight on the Monitor, Sandra Torres, BSN, RN, CMSRN, ONS-Certified, emphasizes the importance of medical-surgical nurses at the bedside, leading by example, and continuing to grow in your career.

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The Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) is the gold-standard certification demonstrating credibility in nursing expertise for the medical-surgical specialty and beyond. The Monitor’s CMSRN Certification Spotlight series highlights medical-surgical nurses who have achieved CMSRN ...

10/16/2026

The conversations may have happened at , but the connections continue long after the convention ends.

In Member I Met Today: Creating Connections at , AMSN members reflect on the nurses they met, the ideas that inspired them, and the relationships that made this year's convention so memorable. From first-time attendees discovering their place in the med-surg community to longtime members reconnecting with colleagues and finding new ways to get involved, these stories capture what makes AMSN more than a professional association.

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One of the best parts of is the way connection happens everywhere — in the exhibit hall, between sessions, during celebrations, and in those quick hallway conversations that turn into lasting professional relationships. For medical-surgical nurses, this convention is more than a meeting ...

10/15/2026

"A home unlike any other."

For Ashten Champ, RN, medical-surgical nursing is about the community built among colleagues as they work together to care for and uplift patients. It's not just about the broader medical-surgical nursing community. It's also about the bonds built with the people you work alongside every day.

💙 We'd love to hear your story, too. Join the movement and share what medical-surgical nursing means to you. https://amsn.org/About/-IAmMedSurg

10/14/2026

Heads up, CMSRN certificants: Starting Jan. 1, 2027, you'll have a 30-day grace period after your certification expires to complete recertification.

Review the details now so you're prepared when it's time to renew.

Learn more: https://www.msncb.org/CMSRN/Recertification

10/13/2026

A simple meal tray can have a big impact on patient safety. Blaise B. Nieve, Ph.D., Ph.D., RN, NEA-BC, CMSRN, CAVRN, CPAFH, FSIEN, FFNMRCSI, explains why medical-surgical nurses should understand the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework to help reduce aspiration risk and improve patient outcomes.

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Picture this. It's a busy morning on a medical-surgical unit. A patient recovering from a stroke receives breakfast. The tray ticket says, "Level 6 Soft & Bite-Sized with Level 2 Mildly Thick liquids." The nursing assistant brings the tray, the nurse administers medications, and everyone moves on to...