General Job Description
Case management nurses are responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating individual patient care plans. They generally play the role of a social worker, a welfare advocate, and often serve as a liaison between patients, patients’ families and insurance companies.
Places of Employment
Case management nurses are usually employed by hospitals, home health agencies, hospices, nursing homes and health insurance companies.
A typical day for a case management nurse may include coordinating primary care visits, coordinating surgeries, or coordinating specialized treatments for patients. They will assess and monitor their patients, determining their eligibility for special treatments or procedures. They make use of all clinical pathways and desired outcomes. Case management nurses work with a specific group of patients. Their goal is to give patients the best care in the most cost-effective manner possible.
Required Education
Those who are interested in becoming a case management nurse must attend an accredited nursing school, and become a registered nurse before they can qualify for the position. Typically, case managers are required to have several years of clinical experience as a registered nurse prior to working as a case manager. Many employers may also require health care experience in a supervisory or in a quality assurance position before they can qualify nurses to work as a case manager. There is also the option of becoming certified by the Case Management Association. In order to obtain this certification, case managers must pass an exam that consists of two parts. The first part consists of questions about case management in the health care system. The second part consists of clinical simulations. In some cases, this certification can improve professional standing and potential earnings.
Average Salary
The national average salary of a case management nurse is $65,000. The average salary of a case management nurse may go higher or lower, depending on where the job is located. For instance, In California, the average salary is $87,000.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for case management nursing is positive. The aging baby boomers will need more health care procedures and treatments in the near future, and there will be a growing need for case managers to care for them. Additionally, jobs will be created in case management nursing to replace aging nurses as they leave the profession.
Similar Types of Nurses
Nurses that have similar duties to case management nurses are geriatric nurses, pediatric nurses, psychiatric nurses and home health care nurses.