Nurses work hard to deliver care to patients in need. They evaluate patients’ symptoms, administer treatment services, and monitor patients’ progress on their road to recovery. Sometimes, though, patients require more in-depth involvement from their care team. Patients struggling with chronic disease, long-term disability, or intensive care needs, for example, often need professional guidance through their entire healthcare journey—bringing disparate providers and treatments together, for one comprehensive care approach. And that is where nurse case managers can help.

What is a nurse case manager?

A nurse case manager is a type of registered nurse (RN) who acts as an advocate for patients with chronic and complex conditions. Also called RN case managers, these professionals work on a collaborative team to understand the medical needs of their patients and develop care plans to help them achieve long-term wellness and recovery.

Most often, nurse case managers are the liaison between patients and providers. They serve as a central point of contact for patients, families, practitioners, and health insurers. On a daily basis, nurse case managers help connect their patients with various health resources, facilitating access to services and ensuring they receive comprehensive, quality care.

What does a nurse case manager do?

Nurse case managers have a background in registered nursing and use their clinical knowledge to help patients with complex medical needs. They help patients navigate the healthcare system, facilitate access to healthcare services, and empower patients with well-rounded and personalized treatment plans.

On a daily basis, nurse case managers carry out the following responsibilities:

• Act as a liaison between patients and their providers (health practitioners and insurance providers) to ensure high-quality, cost-effective, and always-informed care
• Advocate for patients’ needs, preferences, and high-quality care options
• Assess patients’ conditions, needs, health histories, and existing care network
• Create and manage care plans for patients with chronic or serious conditions
• Communicate with patients and their families about their health and treatment
• Educate and inform patients and their families, particularly as they make important medical decisions
• Foster a continuity of care for patients, preventing gaps in coverage
• Monitor patients’ progress and health outcomes, recommending changes as needed
• Review medical test results in collaboration with other providers/specialists
• Record medical updates, appointments, and results
• Schedule appointments and services for patients

As you can gather, nurse case managers do more than just manage patient caseloads; their jobs are all about understanding their patients’ needs, ensuring patients receive the care they deserve, and creating a seamless, informed, integrated care plan for every patient in need.

Start your journey towards a career in case management at Goodwin.

Where do nurse case managers work?

Nurse case managers can work in a variety of patient care settings and with many different patient demographics.

Typically, though, you can find nurse case managers working with patients who have a longer road to recovery—such as those with chronic conditions, in trauma or burn units, or who are in hospice. RN case managers generally work with patients who are juggling multiple appointments, seeing different doctors and specialists, and requiring integrated treatment and case management.

Wherever these types of patients are, you might find nurse case managers. Nurse case managers often work in an office environment within patient care facilities, such as:

• Assisted living facilities
• Community care centers
• Home healthcare agencies
• Hospitals
• Hospice
• ICU and trauma units
• Insurance companies
• Outpatient clinics
• Oncology departments
• Palliative care
• Rehabilitation centers
• Residential care settings
• A third-party (or their own) consulting business

Nurse case managers have the perk of working with many different patients, without providing direct, hands-on patient care. They are able to foster deep relationships with their clients and see them through the road to recovery. They have the unique opportunity to create a seamless and easy patient experience for those going through difficult times. And that is why so many case managers love what they do.

Becoming a nurse case manager

If you are a registered nurse and looking to take your career to the next level, nurse case management is a great field to explore. This managerial role allows you to take a step back and assess the bigger picture when it comes to patient cases, looking for opportunities to enhance patients’ health and well-being beyond direct bedside care.

Typically, becoming a nurse case manager comes after some time working as an RN. Because of the management skills required, on top of clinical know-how, most employers will expect case managers to hold an advanced degree, like a BSN, and/or years of field experience as an RN. The most common steps to securing this career include:

• Earning a bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN)
• Passing the NCLEX exam and securing licensure (after an ADN or BSN)
• Working in the field to gain experience
• Earning board certification in case management, which requires 2,000 hours of experience (this step is voluntary, but can give you a leg-up!)

If you are an experienced registered nurse looking to grow in your profession and qualify for a case management career, Goodwin University can help you get there. Goodwin is a leading nursing school with on-campus and online BSN classes available to help you reach your goals. For seasoned RNs, our RN-to-BSN program offers a flexible degree path that can be completed part-time, while giving you foundational skills in nursing research, leadership and management, healthcare advocacy, and more.

Request more information online today to learn more.