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What Does an Ambulatory Nurse Do?

Ambulatory nurses work in hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices, and telehealth centers, providing care for patients who are not hospitalized. According to the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, ambulatory nursing is characterized by relatively short (less than 24 hours), episodic visits with patients who are seeking care, either to address a health problem or continue preventative care. They work with a variety of illnesses and conditions, and they also provide care over telephone, Internet, or other communication media.

Education & Training Required to Become an Ambulatory Nurse

An associate's degree in nursing or a diploma in nursing from a hospital program are the typically the minimum requirements for becoming a nurse, but a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) opens up wider job opportunities. Degree programs are more common than diploma programs, and include both class time and supervised clinical work. After you earn your degree, you must pass the NCLEX-RN, a national exam, to be licensed as a nurse.

While there are no degree programs specifically in ambulatory care nursing, you can be credentialed or certified in ambulatory care nursing and can also complete your supervised clinical experience in an ambulatory care facility. Online degree programs or continuing education classes can help you keep your skills fresh.

Typical Characteristics of an Ambulatory Care Nurse

Like all good nurses, ambulatory care nurses must be attentive to detail, compassionate, good communicators, and responsible. If you choose to be an ambulatory care nurse, you need to be able to work with a variety of patients throughout the day during relatively short visits, meaning that you'll need to be able to sort through and keep track of a wide variety of information within a short period of time.

High Demand for Ambulatory Nurses

The employment of nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, and those who have advanced degrees, such as a BSN or MSN should have broader job opportunities, as well as greater opportunities for advancement. A nursing degree can be a fairly lucrative investment, since nurses earn a median annual salary of $62,450. If you are interested in working with outpatients, studying ambulatory care nursing could be perfect for you.