Ambulanter Pfleger/Ambulante Pflegerin

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Soft Robotics in Medicine: Soft robotics is a research area focused on developing robots from soft, flexible materials. These robots can be used in medicine for precise drug delivery and in care and rehabilitation to support people in daily life. Professionals in medical technology, care, and rehabilitation will engage with this trend. Digitalization in Care: Inpatient and outpatient care are becoming increasingly digital, utilizing intelligent technologies such as e-health, technical assistance systems, and telematics. In pilot studies, care facilities are testing care robots that support nursing staff.

Outpatient nurses primarily work in the homes of the individuals they care for and in office settings.

Core competencies generally required for this profession include: General medicine (care, assistance), outpatient/mobile care, outpatient residential care, treatment care, basic care, patient care. Additional competencies that may be important for practicing this profession are: Billing, elderly care, respiratory care (invasive, non-invasive), obstetrics, delivery care, health prevention, homecare services, administering infusions, pediatrics (care, assistance), nursing, patient transport, care documentation, pharmacology, quality management, rehabilitation (care, assistance), infant care. Other relevant skills and knowledge include the 'Person Groups' competency group.

Outpatient nurses frequently use their hands, for example, when changing dressings, but also utilize aids and equipment such as positioning aids or blood pressure and blood sugar monitors. Following medical instructions, they administer medications or change infusion containers. They treat pressure sores or wounds with liniments, powders, or ointments. Typically, they wear protective clothing such as gowns, gloves, and possibly masks. In the office at the care center or at home, they document care measures on the computer and create deployment plans. They care for their patients on-site in their homes, which involves close physical contact. They may come into contact with excretions and skin-irritating disinfectants and cleaning agents. Shift work is common. Outpatient nurses carefully adhere to occupational safety and hygiene regulations. They approach the individual physical and psychological problems of those in need of care with empathy.

Outpatient nurses can become self-employed and, for example, establish their own outpatient care service.

Example gross basic salary in the public service tariff sector (monthly): 3,510 € to 4,305 €. Source: Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst (TVöD) (Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Public Service). Note: This information is for orientation purposes only. No claims can be derived from it.

Healthcare sector (Outpatient care services), Social services (Outpatient care services for the elderly, including nursing care; Outpatient care services for people with disabilities, including nursing care), Other social services n.e.c. (excluding youth work and social counseling services), e.g., organizations for independent welfare and youth assistance.

The practice of this profession is regulated. A nursing Ausbildung (vocational training) or Weiterbildung (further training) in the healthcare sector and a corresponding professional license are required.

Outpatient nurses can find employment with outpatient care services and organizations for independent welfare.

Ambulatory Caregiver/Nurse. English job title: Health care assistant (m/f).

A Class B driving license is usually required.

Ambulatory caregivers provide non-inpatient basic and treatment care, as well as psychosocial support, for people in need of care.

Job and application portals include BibliomedPflege, bpa - Jobs & Ausbildung, CareLounge, Deutsche Pflegejobs, EKD-Stellenbörse, Gesundheit.Jobs, kliniken.de, krankenhaus-stellen.de, medicaltopjobs.de, Pflegejob.de, Pflegekarriere.de, sozialeberufe.de, StaffSanté.fr.

Relevant associations and organizations include: AVG e.V., Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege (BGW), bpa - Bundesverband privater Anbieter sozialer Dienste e.V., Bundesverband Ambulante Dienste und Stationäre Einrichtungen (bad) e.V., Deutscher Berufsverband für Pflegeberufe - DBfK Bundesverband e.V., Deutscher Pflegerat e.V. - DPR, Deutscher Pflegeverband e.V. (DPV), ver.di - Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft, Verband katholischer Altenhilfe in Deutschland e.V. (VKAD), Zentrum für Qualität in der Pflege (ZQP).

Working conditions include responsibility for individuals (e.g., when administering medication), dealing with sick and injured people (caring for and supporting sick individuals or accident victims in their homes), dealing with elderly people (caring for and supporting elderly people in need of care in their homes), dealing with people with disabilities (caring for and supporting people with disabilities in need of care in their homes). Emotionally demanding situations and activities (caring for critically ill and dying people) may arise. Work often involves forced postures (frequently working in a bent or stooped position), heavy lifting and carrying (e.g., repositioning patients), and work while walking and standing. Adherence to various regulations and legal requirements (e.g., general care regulations and specific medical instructions), manual work (e.g., changing dressings), and screen work (e.g., documenting care measures) are part of the job. Wearing protective clothing and equipment (gowns, gloves, and possibly masks) may be necessary.

A central part of this job is caring for and supporting sick people and those in need of care. Ambulatory caregivers use the following tools: Medical devices and apparatus, such as inhalers, thermometers, blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters. Medications, care aids, and accessories, such as tablets, ointments, infusion solutions, bandages, decubitus prophylaxis agents, body powder, soap, medical baths, bedpans, urine bottles, stoma bags, catheters, personal hygiene items. Communication tools and documents, such as tablets, smartphones, patient charts, (electronic) patient files, work and hygiene regulations.

Ambulatory caregivers look after elderly or sick individuals and people with disabilities who require care and assistance in their home environment. According to medical prescriptions, they administer medication, apply dressings, check blood sugar levels, or help with putting on and taking off compression stockings. They also assist with nutrition, personal hygiene, and positioning bedridden individuals. They measure and document vital signs and provide individualized psychosocial support. They advise patients and their relatives, considering cultural aspects. Furthermore, they record care services so that they are medically traceable and can be billed to the care insurance funds (Pflegekassen).

Related professions that can lead to this role include: Specialist Elderly Care Nurse for Clinical Geriatrics and Rehabilitation, Specialist Elderly Care Nurse for Oncology, Specialist Elderly Care Nurse for Palliative and Hospice Care, Specialist Pediatric Nurse for Intensive Care and Anesthesia, Specialist Pediatric Nurse for Intermediate Care, Specialist Pediatric Nurse for Nephrology, Specialist Pediatric Nurse for Oncology, Specialist Pediatric Nurse for Palliative and Hospice Care, Specialist Pediatric Nurse for Rehabilitation and Long-term Care, Specialist Nurse for Intensive Care and Anesthesia, Specialist Nurse for Intermediate Care, Specialist Nurse for Clinical Geriatrics, Specialist Nurse for Nephrology, Specialist Nurse for Oncology, Specialist Nurse.

Adaptive further training (Anpassungsweiterbildung) helps to keep professional knowledge up-to-date and adapt it to new developments (e.g., in the areas of ambulatory care, home and family care, hygiene, or care counseling). Furthermore, the trend towards digitalization in care can become an important further training topic for ambulatory caregivers.

Further professional and career opportunities open up, depending on your professional background, through advanced vocational training (Aufstiegsweiterbildung) (e.g., as a specialist in health and social care) or an undergraduate degree (Studium) (e.g., in nursing management or science). Under certain conditions, a university degree is also possible without a school-leaving qualification for university admission. For more information, see "Access to Higher Education in the individual Bundesländer (federal states)".

Tasks include planning, documenting, and billing for care measures. They assess care needs and participate in care planning. Care measures are documented, typically using specialized care software, in patient charts and care protocols. They handle billing, organizational, and administrative duties, and professionally store and manage medications. They contribute to quality assurance concepts and measures. Caregivers provide patient-oriented basic and treatment care, acting with cultural sensitivity. They identify and evaluate the physical, mental, and social needs and problems of the person requiring care. They ensure professional aftercare following hospital stays or operations. They measure body weight, temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and blood sugar. They execute medical prescriptions, such as administering medications and dressing wounds. They assist with personal hygiene and daily activities, like washing and eating, and help patients into bed, taking preventive measures.

The legal regulations concern the equivalence of foreign professional qualifications. This is governed by Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ EU L 255, p. 22), last amended by Delegated Decision (EU) 2025/2187 of 30.07.2025 (OJ EU L 2187, p. 1).

The following lists professions or activities similar to the original profession. These professions offer a possible alternative for applicants. Employers can also consider individuals from these professions as alternatives for filling a position in the original profession. Some alternative professions cover only partial activities of the original profession, while others may require an induction period that varies in length. Immediate employment and staffing alternatives for the Ambulante/r Pfleger/in profession (for overall activity, usually with short induction): Geriatric Nurse, Health and Pediatric Nurse, Health and General Nurse, State-Recognized Home and Family Carer, Pediatric Nurse, General Nurse.