Elaine Fidler, RN, MSN, nurse manager of the surgical procedure and postanesthesia units at St. Mary's Hospital in Langhorne, PA, views a high degree of flexibility as one of the key ingredients to success in ambulatory care. In any given day, procedures may range from pediatric or gynecological to orthopedic or endoscopic. As services continue to increase, she adds, nurses also need to be ready and open to learn new procedures. As ambulatory care increases in scope, so do the career opportunities for RNs. On-call may also be required in some areas.
Salaries are competitive with hospital salaries.
Some of these areas of demand include adult and pediatric critical care and emergency care. Margaret Hawke, RN, MA, is a regular contributor to Nursing Spectrum. Up to the plate, says Hanson.