Name: Ambulatory Care Nurse Description: Provides for the health needs of individuals, families, and groups in diverse settings. Emphasis on helping patients stay well and independent in their home environment as long as possible Diagnoses: Varies from holistic health/wellness, perinatal, and pediatric to emergent and urgent problems Practice roles: Staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse manager, supervisor, director, executive Characteristics: Varied specialties to choose from, regular hours, less stress than inpatient settings, collegial relationships Client age group: All ages, depends on targeted population Drawbacks: Brief patient contacts, medical model versus nursing-based model of practice Desirable skills: Phlebotomy, IV therapy, ECG, triage and telephone advice, teaching, communication skills, autonomy and independence Education: RN with AD, diploma, or BSN Employers: Ambulatory providers such as surgicenters, primary care offices, HMOs, clinics, special procedure and mobile health units, colleges, universities, home health agencies, day care centers, homeless shelters, the military, retirement communities Certification: American Nurses Credentialing Center 600 Maryland Ave., SW, #100 Washington, DC 20024-2571 800-284-CERT Associations: American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (offers certification) East Holly Ave., Box 56 Pitman, NJ 08071-0056 800-amb-nurs or 856-256-2350 Publications: Viewpoint Newsletter 800-amb-nurs or 856-256-2350