LAUSR

In this column, I ask my fellow nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners to consider developing transition topractice (TTP)programs for ambulatory care settings.With the national spotlight focused on primary care chronic diseasemanagement and the emergence of subspecialties within ambulatory care nursing (e.g., telehealth, care coordination, and transition management), the role of the registered nurse (RN) in ambulatory care is increasingly recognized and valued (The Josiah Macy Junior Foundation, 2016). Increasing numbers of RNs are leaving acute care to work in clinics and other outpatient settings. The Department of Labor Statistics (2015) projects that the percentage of RNs employed in physician offices will increase from 6.7% to 22.5% between 2014 and 2024. Despite the number of nurses transitioning from acute care to ambulatory care, increased demand for RNs has exceeded the supply, and ambulatory care is experiencing a nursing shortage. As a result, more employers are now hiring newly graduated RNs into telehealth and other ambulatory roles, despite a historic preference for experienced nurses in these positions. As a result of these changes, it is increasingly necessary for NPD practitioners to implement TTP programs to prepare nurses for new and expanding roles in ambulatory care nursing.