How to Become an Ambulatory Nurse
State laws regarding licensing will vary, but the first step toward becoming an ambulatory nurse setting is to become a registered nurse. To become a registered nurse, students must earn a degree from a state-approved school of nursing, be it a four-year program or two-year associate degree, and pass a state licensing examination. Those that already have completed a nursing diploma or associate’s degree programs may be interested in pursuing their BSN or MSN degrees. Click here to find an accredited nursing program now.
Ambulatory Nurse Job Description and Duties
There are different ways to specialize as a registered nurse. Some nurses specialize by disease or illness, some by specific population, and some by work setting. An ambulatory care nurse provides care for patients in clinics or physicians’ offices. Because they specialize according to setting, they can treat a variety of patients as well as a large scope of injury or illness. There are even ambulatory nurses who provide care for patients through the internet, telephone, or other electronic communications. This is called telehealth.
Salary and Job Outlook for Ambulatory Care Nurses
Salary for ambulatory nursing will vary greatly on clinic or office and the type of care an ambulatory nurse is providing. Region, employer, and years of experience will also affect salary. Median salary for non-advanced nursing usually hovers around $50,000, and the median salary for an ambulatory nurse manager is closer to $60,000.
Healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States due to the growing aging population and the large portion of healthcare workers approaching retirement. Registered nurses in general are projected to see roughly 587,000 job openings before 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. This is the largest projected rate of growth of any other occupation. Additionally, technologically is enabling doctors to perform more and more procedures performed in ambulatory clinics and offices that were once only done in hospitals. Because of this, the specialization of ambulatory nursing is projected to grow at an even faster pace.