MED/SURG SKILLS CHECKLIST
Please enter your full legal name as it appears on your Social Security Card.
* - Required Fields
* First Name:      * Last Name:      * Date:   (mm/dd/yyyy)
Job Description: Staff Nurse - RN Medical Surgical
Evaluates, may create and implement patient plan of care, and documents all nursing care for the assigned patient(s). May assists doctors, NP's, PA's, during examinations and procedures. Administers medications within the scope of practice of the registered nurse. Establish patient care goals and provides necessary teaching to patient and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills. Requires a minimum of an associate's degree and a license in the state of employment as a registered nurse. Utilizes ones experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks and direct patient care. Reports to a manager or charge nurse of the designated unit.
KEY: For each criteria
Score 1: Two plus years Expert Experience
Score 2: One-Two Years Current Experience
Score 3: Less than one year or Intermittent Experience
Score 4: Theory, no experience

CRITERIA SCORE
1234
CARDIOVASCULAR
Assessment 
Auscultation (rate, rhythm)
Blood pressure/non-invasive
Doppler
Heart sounds/murmurs
Pulses/circulation checks
Equipment and Procedures 
A) Telemetry 
         (1) Basic 12 lead interpretation
         (2) Basic arrhythmia interpretation
         (3) Lead placement
B) Pacemaker 
         (1) Permanent
         (2) Temporary
Care of the patient with: 
Abdominal aortic bypass
Aneurysm
Angina
Cardiac arrest
Cardiomyopathy
Carotid endarterectomy
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
Femoral-popliteal bypass
Myocarditis
Post acute MI (24 - 48 hrs)
Post angioplasty
Post cardiac cath
Post cardiac surgery
Thrombophlebitis
Medications 
Heparin drip
Oral anticoagulants
Oral & IVP antihypertensives
Oral & topical nitrates
PULMONARY
Assessment 
Breath sounds
Rate and work of breathing
Interpretation of lab results 
Blood chemistry
Blood gases
Equipment and Procedures 
A) Airway management devices/suctioning 
         1) Endotracheal tube/suctioning
         2) Nasal airways /suctioning
         3) Oropharyngeal/suctioning
         4) Sputum specimen collection
         5) Tracheostomy/suctioning
B) Assist with intubation
C) Assist with thoracentesis
D) Care of the patient on a ventilator
E) Care of the patient with a chest tube 
         1) Assist with set-up and insertion
         2) Measuring and emptying
         3) Removal
F) Chest physiotherapy
G) Incentive spirometry
H) O2 therapy & medication delivery systems 
         1) Bag and mask
         2) External CPAP
         3) Face masks
         4) Inhalers
         5) Nasal cannula
         6) Portable O2 tank
         7) Trach collar
I) Oximetry
Care of patient with 
Bronchoscopy
COPD
Fresh tracheostomy
Lobectomy
Pneumonectomy
Pneumonia
Pulmonary embolism
Thoracotomy
Tuberculosis
NEUROLOGICAL
Assessment 
Glasgow coma scale
Level of consciousness
Equipment and procedures 
Assist with lumbar puncture
Use of hyper/hypothermia blanket
Care of the patient with 
Aneurysm precautions
Basal skull facture
Closed head injury
Coma
CVA
DT's
Encephalitis
Externalized VP shunts
Meningitis
Neuromuscular disease
Post craniotomy
Seizures
Spinal cord injury
Administration of anticonvulsants
ORTHOPEDICS
Assessment 
Circulation checks
Gait
Range of motion
Skin
Equipment and procedures 
Continuous passive motion devices
Support devices 
         1) Cane
         2) Cervical collar
         3) Gait belt
         4) Prosthetic
         5) Sling
         6) Transfer boards
         7) Walker
         8) Wheelchair
Traction
Care of patient with 
Amputation
Arthroscopic surgery
Cast
Osteoporosis
Pinned fractures
Rheumatic/arthritic disease
Total hip replacement
Total knee replacement
GASTROINTESTINAL
Assessment 
Abdominal/bowel sounds
Fluid balance
Nutritional
Interpretation of blood chemistry
Equipment and procedures 
A) Administration of tube feeding 
         1) Feeding pump
         2) Gravity feeding
         3) Saline lavage
B) Flexible feeding tube (ie: Corpak, Dobhoff)
C) Management of 
         1) Gastrostomy tube
         2) Jejunostomy tube
         3) T-tube
D) Placement of nasogastric tube
E) Salem sump to suction
Care of patient with 
Bowel obstruction
Colostomy/ileostomy
GI Bleeding
GI surgery
Hepatitis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Invasive diagnostic testing
Liver failure
Paralytic ileus
RENAL / GENITOURINARY
Assessment 
Arterio venous fistula/shunt
Fluid balance
Interpretation of lab results 
BUN and creatinine
Electrolytes
Equipment and procedures 
A) Insertion and care of straight and Foley catheter 
         1) Female
         2) Male
B) Catheter care 
         1) 3-way Foley
         2) Supra-pubic
C) Bladder irrigations 
         1) Continuous
         2) Intermittent
D) Specimen collection 
         1) Routine
         2) 24 hour
Care of patient with 
Hemodialysis
Nephrectomy
Peritoneal dialysis
Renal failure
Renal transplant
TURP
Urinary diversion/ileal conduit nephrostomy
Urinary tract infection
ENDOCRINE / METABOLIC
Assessment 
S/S diabetic coma
S/S insulin reaction
Equipment and procedures 
A) Blood glucose monitoring 
         1) Electronic measuring device: type
         2) Performing finger stick
         3) Visual blood glucose strips
B) Indwelling insulin pump
Care of patients with 
Diabetes mellitus
Disorders of adrenal gland (Addison's disease)
Disorders of pituitary gland (Diabetes insipidus)
Hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease)
Hypothyroidism
Thyroidectomy
Medications (administration and teaching) 
Insulin
Oral Hypoglycemics
Steroids
Thyroid
WOUND MANAGEMENT
Assessment 
Skin for impending breakdown
Stasis ulcers
Surgical wound healing
Equipment and procedures 
Air fluidized, low airloss beds
Sterile dressing changes
Wound/care/irrigations
Care of patient with 
Burns
Pressure sores
Staged decubitus ulcers
Surgical wounds with drain(s)
Traumatic wounds
ONCOLOGY
Assessment 
Nutritional status
Pain control
Interpretation of lab results 
Blood chemistry
Blood counts
Equipment and procedures 
Reverse isolation
Care of patient with 
Bone marrow transplant
Fresh oncologic surgery
Inpatient chemotherapy
Inpatient hospice
Leukemia