Ambulatory care nursing is the nursing care of patients who receive treatment on an outpatient basis, ie they do not require admission to a hospital for an overnight stay. The setting can vary widely, from hospital-based clinics to patient homes.
Contact with patients in ambulatory care is often relatively brief, and in the context of a high volume of patients. Nurses in this setting require sound assessment skills and the ability to guide patients in making informed health choices.
Quality ambulatory care nursing has been associated with fewer emergency room visits, hospital visits and readmissions.
References
Ambulatory care nursing Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA