Ambulatory care nurses treat patients in an outpatient setting, which means their patients do not stay overnight in a medical facility. Nurses in this specialty can treat patients from any age group and can work in a vast array of medical settings. They typically see patients for preventative care, regular checkups, and minor injuries. This broad specialty allows nurses to explore many different aspects of medicine and doesn’t require a lot of nursing experience to get started.
Where Do Ambulatory Care Nurses Work?
With their wide range of skills, ambulatory care nurses can work in many different healthcare settings:
Physician offices
Medical clinics
Outpatient surgery centers
Community health clinics
Government medical institutions
Mobile health clinics
Telehealth
Urgent care facilities
Ambulatory care nurses may work in a hospital if that facility has a same-day-surgery unit. However, most will find work in other settings. They often see patients visiting their primary care provider in a medical office or treat patients who come to urgent care for non-emergent health issues.
In an outpatient surgery center, patients undergo minor surgeries and return home the same day. Ambulatory care nurses may help them check in, start an IV for the procedure, and guide them through the process.
Other ambulatory care nurses may speak with patients over the phone and provide health advice and education for non-urgent matters. Mobile medical clinics bring healthcare to underserved communities. Ambulatory care nurses in this setting can provide health screening, vaccines, and education for areas that may otherwise not have access to these health opportunities.
Similar to mobile clinics, in community health clinics, ambulatory care nurses focus heavily on preventative care and education. Once they get to know the surrounding community, they can be an invaluable health resource.
What Does an Ambulatory Care Nurse Do?
An ambulatory care nurse’s responsibilities depend on their place of employment. If they work in telehealth, nurses may spend most of the day in a home or corporate office on the phone and computer. But ambulatory care nurses who see patients in person may have these responsibilities:
Collaboration with other health team members
Collecting blood and other bodily fluids for laboratory testing
Head-to-toe assessment
IV insertions and maintenance
Medication administration
Pain control
Patient and family education
Patient transportation
Referring patient to other health services
Vital signs monitoring
In an urgent care setting, ambulatory care nurses may also be asked to perform more time-sensitive tasks, such as performing 12-lead EKGs and assisting with imaging like X-rays and ultrasounds. Nurses in urgent care may see anything from a routine sports physical to an unrecognized myocardial infarction (heart attack). With such a long list of possible diagnoses, ambulatory care nurses have to be familiar with all body systems and pathophysiologies.
How Do I Become an Ambulatory Care Nurse?
Aspiring ambulatory care nurses must first attend and graduate from an accredited nursing program with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). An ADN typically takes two years to complete, while a BSN takes four. However, many nursing programs offer an accelerated program that can be finished in as little as a year. After they graduate, nurses may apply for ambulatory care nursing positions as graduate nurses (GNs).
They can begin their orientation as GNs under nurse preceptors, who train them until they pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), their state licensing exam. Once they pass the NCLEX, GNs become registered nurses (RNs) and can practice nursing on their own after their orientation period. Before treating any patients, ambulatory care nurses must obtain their basic life support (BLS) certification. Some positions, like those in urgent care, may also require an advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) certification.
Ambulatory care nurses can earn a specialty certification once they have some experience in the field. The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers an Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC). To be eligible for this credential, nurses must have:
A current RN license
2 years of full-time experience working as an RN
A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in ambulatory care within the last 3 years
Completed 30 hours of continuing education in ambulatory care nursing within the last 3 years
How Much Does an Ambulatory Care Nurse Make Per Year?
The annual salaries for ambulatory care nurses mirror those of other registered nurses, who earn an average of $81,220 per year as of 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salaries can change based on location and experience, from the low-end average of $61,250 to the high-end of $129,400. Depending on your workplace, your employer may be able to offer higher or lower compensation:
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $90,600
Offices of Physicians: $79,810
Outpatient Care Centers: $97,200
Salaries also vary depending on which state an ambulatory care nurse practices. The West Coast, New England states, and Alaska pay their nurses the best, but the cost of living in these areas can also be high. The lowest paying states are in the Midwest and some southeastern states.
The top paying areas for ambulatory care nurses include:
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
Napa, CA
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Yuba City, CA
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA
Ambulatory care nurses with a specialty certification can earn more than nurses who are not certified. The more experience an ambulatory care nurse has, the more they can earn.
Are Ambulatory Care Nurses in High Demand?
Everyone has to see a doctor at some point. Some people wait until the last minute and end up in the emergency room. Others go to urgent care for their checkups or vaccines. But no matter where they go to get their health needs met, ambulatory care nurses are there to help. The BLS reports that the job outlook for RNs through 2032 is 6%, which is much higher than the average occupation.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 24% of U.S. hospitals have reported critical staffing shortages, meaning the United States needs more nurses in all specialties. With knowledge of many health issues, ambulatory care nurses will be in high demand for some time to come.
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