With a passion for patient care, many people feel called to the field of nursing. Becoming a nurse means helping people through illness, injury, and disability. It means delivering care to people in need, often in some of their toughest moments. But for nurses who wish to connect even more deeply with patients, and see them through every step of their healthcare journey, becoming a nurse case manager is the clear path forward.
Nurse case managers, also called RN case managers, oversee care for patients with chronic and serious health conditions—patients who need extra support. These professionals work hard to understand the needs of each patient, coordinate an integrated treatment plan, and facilitate access to personalized, high-quality care. Nurse case managers act as advocates and liaisons for their patients, helping them navigate the complexities that often come with healthcare services and costs.
Given the supervisory nature of this role, nurse case managers typically have several years of experience and training under their belts. Many also have an advanced nursing degree, with exposure to leadership coursework. However, every nurse (those seasoned and those starting out) can become a case manager, with registered nursing as their jumping point.
Read on to learn how to become a nurse case manager, no matter where you are in your career trajectory.
How to become a nurse case manager
The process of becoming a nurse case manager takes a few steps. Your starting point now will largely depend on where you are at in your nursing career. For example, seasoned RNs looking to advance in their careers can start at step three, while those new to nursing will begin at step one:
- Earn your associate degree or bachelor’s degree in Nursing
- Successfully complete the NCLEX-RN exam and become licensed as an RN
- Gain experience in the field of nursing, to hone your patient care skills
- Explore careers as a nurse case manager
- Earn any necessary credentials needed to qualify for the job (e.g. a bachelor’s degree in Nursing or professional certification)
- Pass the board exam to become a certified nurse case manager, if you wish
Explore the requirements for nurse case managers more, below.
Educational requirements
RN case managers must have an RN license, which first requires the completion of a nursing degree. An associate degree in Nursing (ADN) is the standard degree to achieve a registered nursing career, but those looking to become case managers may consider a Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN). A BSN degree is often preferred by employers as it equips students with skills in leadership and management, as well as knowledge in healthcare policy, advocacy, and advanced patient care.
For already-licensed RNs, a fast-paced and flexible program like the RN-to-BSN degree is a great option to accomplish this relevant coursework and qualify for a case management role. An RN-to-BSN can be completed in just 12 months, part-time, and entirely online so that nurses can continue working (and gaining experience) while advancing their degree.
Learn about Goodwin’s flexible RN-to-BSN program here!
Licensing & Certification requirements
The only license needed as a nurse case manager is the RN license, which is granted after successful completion of the NCLEX-RN board exam. The NCLEX-RN evaluates a potential nurse’s critical thinking skills and technical nursing knowledge, to ensure they are ready to practice.
Nurse case managers also have the option to become certified, which is voluntary but recommended. Professional certification demonstrates your skills and competencies in nursing, as well as your commitment to becoming a case manager, and can give you a competitive edge. There are several different certifications you can pursue to become a certified case manager, including:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Nurse Case Manager Certification
- American Case Management (ACM) certification
- The Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC)
Typically, to earn certification as a nurse case manager, you need a lot of experience. For example, the ANCC requires at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience in case management prior to becoming certified. As such, becoming an RN (including earning a degree and becoming licensed) is imperative to getting practice and qualifying for long-term career growth.
Skills requirements
As with any healthcare profession, nurse case managers must have a combination of technical skills in their field, as well as soft skills like communication and compassion, in order to work effectively with patients. Specifically for this field, nurse case managers should have strong skills in:
- Advocacy
- Care coordination
- Clinical knowledge
- Interpersonal communication
- Collaboration
- Delegation
- Empathy and compassion
- Health assessment
- Leadership and management
- Organization
- Problem-solving
- Time management
Some of these skills come naturally to nurses, while others can be earned and learned through a nursing degree program and in-field experience, working with patients in need.
How long does it take to become a nurse case manager?
The timeline to become an RN case manager will vary depending on your education and experience, as well as the requirements set forth by your prospective employers. In general, nurse case managers complete at least 2-3 years in nursing school, plus one year or more gaining experience in the profession, before securing a case management career.
Becoming a registered nurse requires at least two years in nursing school (for an associate degree), but can take up to four years for those pursuing their BSN. While there are accelerated and streamlined degree options, a BSN degree is typically recommended and preferred among RN case managers today. At Goodwin, the RN-to-BSN program takes just one year to complete.
After earning a nursing degree, and gaining licensure as an RN, experience is a must. Experience as an RN will allow you to become well-versed in patient care. Case management experience (2,000 hours or 12 months, depending on the certification path you choose) is also important for accomplishing further credentials.
All-in, becoming a nurse case manager can take about four years to complete, but remember: not all of that time is spent in nursing school. In fact, a lot of that time is put back into the field, meaning you will still be earning a salary while building your resume for the job.
Start your career in RN case management today
Goodwin University is a leading nursing school in Connecticut. If you are new to nursing, you may join our flexible associate degree in Nursing program to kick off your career. Or, if you are a seasoned RN looking to advance into case management, our RN-to-BSN program is an excellent way to level-up your skills and qualify for your dream career.
Plus, many of our classes are offered in online and part-time formats, so that you can continue working while earning your degree.