All About Ambulatory Surgery Centers
By Melissa Wirkus, associate editor
Flexible scheduling, interesting casework and less-stressful work environments are just a few of the many reasons that nurses choose to work in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).
Different from the traditional acute-care hospital setting, accepting an assignment in an ASC gives travel nurses the opportunity to expand their clinical knowledge and skill set while working traditional hours and obtaining greater autonomy.
Matt Myers, a recruiter with leading nurse staffing company American Mobile Healthcare said these types of assignments often appeal to travelers because of the ideal schedule that ASCs provide—which typically includes 8-hour shifts, Monday through Friday, with no call.
“Most of the time these are day shift positions and during the week, so travelers have weekends off to explore,” he explained. “Ambulatory surgery centers are located in a variety of locations—from rural areas like Montana and South Dakota—to big cities like San Francisco and Boston.”
A Growing Sector
Variety is another reason why travel nurses are attracted to assignments in this setting. Not only are ASCs located all across the country, they also cater to different types of patient populations and specialties.
For an experienced travel nurse with the necessary training and clinical experience, there are plenty of options to choose from when looking for an assignment in the ambulatory clinic sector.
According to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, ASCs have seen tremendous growth in the past few years, with outpatient surgeries now outnumbering the cases of inpatient surgeries.
Due to their cost-efficiency and excellent patient care standards, travel nurses will continue to find ample job opportunities in this sector as ambulatory care becomes the standard option to traditional in-hospital surgery.
Maintaining a Work-Life Balance
Many nurses report being “overstressed” and “overworked” in an acute-care hospital setting, and taking an assignment in an ambulatory clinic may give a nurse just the reprieve that he or she needs to continue on with their nursing career.
“Ambulatory settings give nurses the opportunity to get a way from some the hustle and bustle of inpatient care,” Myers said. “It’s a more relaxed environment but still gives the nurse the opportunity to give great patient care.”
Accepting a travel nursing assignment in the ambulatory care sector is yet another alternative to traditional hospital work, providing nurses with the ideal work-life balance.
“The autonomy that a nurse gets and the direct one-to-one patient care are what attract many nurses to a career in ambulatory care,” said Will Morse, vice president of new markets for AMN Healthcare. “There is a lot of flexibility in the way they schedule their day.”
Challenging Work Environments
Working in an ASC or outpatient clinic gives nurses the opportunity to work with a variety of patient populations and maintain a full case load, while thriving in a challenging and stimulating work environment.
For a travel nurse looking for something different than the traditional acute-care hospital “Working in an ambulatory surgery center is a great choice for a nurse with the required experience,” Myers explained. “You get a lot of great hands on care but a less stressful setting than acute-care.”
Whatever your specialty or area of expertise, thinking outside of the box and exploring different types of facilities and locations, such as ASCs, may give your career—and your soul, just the boost it needs.
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