[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Ambulatory Care Nurse Career in Brief[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ambulatory care nurses, sometimes called outpatient nurses, educate patients, perform tests and health monitoring, and provide treatment working with a physician or advanced practice nurse. They may be specialists or generalists. Ambulatory care nurses may also supervise nursing assistants.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ambulatory care duties include the following:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online Nursing Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Ambulatory Care Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ambulatory care nursing can take place in any healthcare setting except for inpatient care. [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.journalofnursingregulation.com/article/S2155-8256(18)30131-5/fulltext” target=”_blank”]In 2017, 9.4%[/hen-ui-link] of nurses worked in an ambulatory setting making it the second-most popular employment setting for registered nurses (RNs).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Health Systems[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ambulatory care nurses help conduct medical testing, assist with outpatient procedures, and educate patients on caring for minor injuries or illnesses.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Physician Offices[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ambulatory care nurses communicate with patients on their condition and any follow-up care, perform patient intake, and coordinate with other healthcare professionals.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Ambulatory Care Centers[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ambulatory care nurses help treat acute and chronic conditions, undertake tasks such as administering intravenous medication and monitoring patients during and after treatment, and ensure patients are safe to go home after same-day procedures.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become an Ambulatory Care Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ambulatory care nursing generally involves less exposure to serious conditions or injuries, and the demands on ambulatory care nurses are more steady and predictable. However, ambulatory care nurses spend less time with patients, and consequently, can feel they are making minimal impact on patients’ lives. Additionally, working conditions can still be hectic and contribute to burnout. Check below for more advantages and disadvantages.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become an Ambulatory Care Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ambulatory care nurses typically hold either an associate degree or bachelor’s in nursing with an RN license, but there are opportunities for advancement through certifications or earning a graduate degree.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Ambulatory Care Nurses Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ambulatory nurse salaries vary based on credentials, certifications, responsibilities, geographic location, and work setting. The 2024 median annual salary for all nurses was $93,600, compared to $49,500 for all professions.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% growth in jobs for all RNs from 2023-2033. However, medical or technical advances, such as minimal invasive procedures like laparoscopic surgery, may convert more inpatient procedures to outpatient procedures, leading to additional growth in ambulatory [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/non-bedside-jobs-for-nurses/”]nursing jobs[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific Salary Data” href=”/resources//nursing-salaries-by-state/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Ambulatory Care Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aaacn.org/” target=”_blank”] American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing provides standards and core curriculum for ambulatory care and care coordination and transition; issues publications; administers scholarship and awards programs; hosts a job board; and offers networking opportunities for RNs engaged in ambulatory care.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.abucm.org/” target=”_blank”] American Board of Urgent Care Medicine[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The American Board of Urgent Care Medicine is an independent certifying body for urgent care medicine. Though it certifies only physicians, the organization offers a job board and general resources for those interested in urgent care.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ascassociation.org/home” target=”_blank”] Ambulatory Surgery Center Association[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association conducts advocacy promoting ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) as part of the healthcare infrastructure; reports on federal and state legislation and regulations that affect ASCs; directs benchmarking research; and provides continuing education on management and clinical care.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How long does it take to become an ambulatory care nurse?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It takes two years to earn an ADN and four to earn a BSN. Certification requires at least two years of experience as an RN. Advanced practice nurses, like [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/”]nurse practitioners[/hen-ui-link], need a master’s in nursing, which takes at least two years.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What is the difference between ambulatory care and outpatient services?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Some providers do not distinguish between the two since neither involves admission to a hospital or healthcare facility. However, others make the distinction that ambulatory care involves a same-day procedure or treatment of some kind, while outpatient services do not require a visit or treatment (e.g., [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/telehealth-nurse/”]telehealth[/hen-ui-link] would be considered as an outpatient service).[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What career advancement opportunities are available for ambulatory care nurses?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/ambulatory-care-nurse/”]Ambulatory care nurses[/hen-ui-link] can gain advancement by becoming advanced practice RNs, such as nurse practitioners, which requires a graduate degree. Advanced practice nurses are licensed to diagnose conditions and prescribe treatments. However, ambulatory care nurses can also advance through certification, either in ambulatory care or other specializations.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Do ambulatory care nurses provide telehealth services to patients?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Telehealth is a growing part of ambulatory care nursing, especially for patients who lack transportation or have physical limitations and cannot easily visit a healthcare facility. Outpatient nurses may provide health monitoring or patient education through telehealth.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”34437,33997,36820,45648″][/hen-ui-article-row][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Reviewed by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Elizabeth M. Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/v1/NurseJournal.org/Elizabeth.jpg?_a=BAMCcSOY0″ img-alt=”Elizabeth M. Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW” layout=”horizontal” background=”none” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Elizabeth Clarke (Poon) is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who provides primary and urgent care to pediatric populations. She earned a BSN and MSN from the University of Miami.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Clarke is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. [hen-ui-link href=”/healthcare-review-partners//”]Learn more about our review partners[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]