What is ambulatory care?

d'cm · Apr 22, 2011

Ambulatory care is primarily elective same day surgery. Nurses are involved with the pre admission testing, and teaching and perioperative care. Typical procedures would be cardiac cath, endoscopies, and laproscopic surgery.

noahsmama · Apr 22, 2011

Ambulatory care = outpatient care. It's not just same day surgery. At our local pediatric hospital, the "ambulatory care" clinic is the primary care clinic.

Avocadoloveer · Apr 22, 2011

Is that similar to an ER?

noahsmama · Apr 22, 2011

No, it's not similar to ER. The particular "ambulatory care" clinic that I'm referring to is a primary care clinic where you can make an appointment for your child's well child visits, as well as sick visits when they're sick. Some people do use the ER as though it were a primary care clinic, but it's not supposed to be.

Avocadoloveer · Apr 22, 2011

Oh thank you for information

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 22, 2011

no, it's not similar to er. the particular "ambulatory care" clinic that i'm referring to is a primary care clinic where you can make an appointment for your child's well child visits, as well as sick visits when they're sick. some people do use the er as though it were a primary care clinic, but it's not supposed to be.

originally posted by d'cm

"ambulatory care is primarily elective same day surgery. nurses are involved with the pre admission testing, and teaching and perioperative care. typical procedures would be cardiac cath, endoscopies, and laproscopic surgery. "

whoa, we are comparing apples & oranges here.

op, are you referencing ambulatory care or ambulatory surgery?

noahsmama · Apr 23, 2011

Here's Wikipedia's definition, FWIW:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambulatory_care

They define it as any care that can be delivered on an outpatient basis. This would include primary care in physician's offices, same day surgery centers, and any visits to an ER which do no require admission to the hospital.

If you just remember ambulatory care = outpatient, it all makes sense.

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 23, 2011

Here's Wikipedia's definition, FWIW:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambulatory_care
They define it as any care that can be delivered on an outpatient basis. This would include primary care in physician's offices, same day surgery centers, and any visits to an ER which do no require admission to the hospital.
If you just remember ambulatory care = outpatient, it all makes sense.

Well, not so much. Just try getting a position as a PACU RN in an Ambulatory Surgery Center, while claiming experience in an Ambulatory Care Center. The hiring managers will likely say "Whhaaaa??"

By the same token, I would not expect my primary care provider (ambulatory of course) to necessarily be overly interested in an employment candidate who has an ambulatory surgical background.

Still hoping to hear from OP as to which specialty she cares to hear from.

Surgical pre- & post-op care differs greatly from primary care. Best to know the difference before applying for a position.

Avocadoloveer · Apr 23, 2011

Yes I read wikipedia. Thank you. Yes, we'll see. Visiting unit on monday. Majority of my experience is based on cardiac but I heard so many good things about this hospital. Since I'm still a student, it is the best time to just explore other areas in the field of nursing. Unfortunately, the recruiter told me that they dont accept nurses in the cardiac units. I heard great things about this hospital and wanted to give it a shot even though I do have an offer in a cath lab at another institution. Thank you for info!

ascRN · Apr 23, 2011

Ambulatory care = all outpatient care where patients are well enough to not need to be inpatients. It's a very broad and vague definition.

Ambulatory surgery = what is listed above. Usually takes place in an outpatient clinic or ambulatory surgical center. The procedures that occur in this setting typically are invasive (though minimally so) and require a standard of intake, sedation and recovery.