A case management nurse is responsible for assisting patients in a specific demographic and coordinating their long-term care. If you are an organized professional in the field of nursing who wants a fulfilling position, becoming a case manager could be the answer. Not only will you schedule doctor appointments and recommend treatment options and procedures, you will also work with insurance companies and find the most cost-effective options. This makes it a multi-facted career option that offers you independence and the opportunity to work remotely from home. If you are ready to learn how to pursue a career at a case management nurse, read on and discover what you need to know.
Become a Registered Nurse
The first step in most nursing specialties is to become a registered nursing professional. In order to become an RN, you will need to enroll in an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree program majoring in Nursing. Once you complete the program that is required by your state board of nursing, the next step will be to schedule your licensing exam with the National Council. When you pass this NCLEX-RN examination, you will officially be an RN who is able to practice in acute healthcare settings.
Get Experience and Get Certified
After you are a licensed RN, the next step will be to get the professional experience that you need to qualify for specialty certification needed to be a case manager. The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers the Nursing Case Management Credential to RN’s who have 2 years of full-time experience or who can demonstrate at least 2000 hours of practice in the field within the last 3 years. You must also be able to show that you have completed 30 hours of case manager continuing education in the same 3 year period. Once you can demonstrate this, you are eligible to test for your certification.
Find an Open Case Manager Position
Once you have earned your certification, you are officially a specialist and can be employed as a case manager. Many different types of healthcare settings have special needs for case managers, and a majority of these settings are in the public sector. If you are in search of a position where you can take on an enty-level role as a specialist, the CMSA is a professional society that has chapters in every major city. By contacting the chapter and becoming a member, you can access the career center and add yourself to the talent pool where employers will search for you. You can also apply with hospitals, health systems, and public health agencies if you are not a member and are actively searching.
Case managers play an important role in the healthcare system to patients who need routine care for long periods of times. If you want to work in an independent role where you are truly helping people and acting as their advocate, then pursuing this certification is the right move. Once you are an RN, you will need to look for opportunities where you can work closely with case managers. After you have the necessary experience and you have taken the appropriate continuing education courses, you can then study for your case management certification exam and become a case manager nurse.
