An ambulatory care nurse refers to a nursing professional
who treats patients in an outpatient care setting. This means
treating non-emergency patients who need routine medical
care in a health clinic, urgent care facility, medical office, or
another healthcare setting that doesn't require overnight
stays.
Responsibilities
Ambulatory nurses can have many responsibilities, such as
treating patients in clinical settings under the supervision of a
licensed doctor. This can involve examining patients who
experience symptoms to help reach a diagnosis, informing
patients and their families about the conditions they
experience and performing diagnostic tests, such as X-rays
and oxygen saturation. Ambulatory nurses can also
collaborate with other healthcare professionals, like
physicians, specialists and other nurses, to ensure patients
receive the appropriate care. An ambulatory nurse can work
as a generalist, but they can also specialize in a certain area
of nursing, like pediatrics or mental health.
Another key responsibility that an ambulatory nurse can have
is supervising nursing assistants to keep track of their
assignments and make sure they're stationed in the correct
units in a facility.
Where do ambulatory care nurses work?
Ambulatory care nurses can work in a number of different
settings that provide medical care in outpatient settings. One