case manager

Dec 11, 2008 02:22 PM

by baker1138

Hello All,
I am in the process of making a job change. I am researching (hours) to get into case management for insurance companies, prefer to work out of my home. I have noticed a commonality that most RN's working in this role also have the case management certificate. I was recently approached by a recruiter from an online university, it is going to cost me almost $4000.00 to get this. This really raised my eyebrows. So, I went back online and found the Commission on Case management and long story short, I can get national certificate for around 290.00
Has anyone done this? Can you give me some study hints (meaning books to study).
Will this open up this job area for me? I am feeling it is a hard area to get into.
Any one work out of their home as a RN?
Thank you, happy holidays....

Quickbeam · Dec 11, 2008, 03:04 PM

Re: case manager

I was a case manager for 5 years. This was for a Major Insurance Company. They could not have cared less about a CCM cert. They were just as happy with my CRRN and the fact that I'd show up on time.

In my region, all I hear is that the companies can't find good nurses. I've called around and the CCM means little to any of them. Maybe it is different in your region. However they are definitely pulling back from the "working out of the home" mindset. More and more of them (at least here) want face time in the office.

Also...as an aside....absolutely no recruiter wants to hear the phrase: "Work Life Balance". I spoke with a VP of managed care in my region and she says that's an immediate "do not hire" in her office. I guess they have been burned too many times.

JonPM · Dec 11, 2008, 04:26 PM

Re: case manager

Can anyone comment on pay difference between floor RN and case manager in private sector?

baker1138 · Dec 11, 2008, 04:51 PM

Re: case manager

what is work life balance? Never heard that before.
Also almost every job requirement I have read asks for the CCM. So, how is it that it is meaningless? Not judging your perspective, just digging for info.
What "major insurance company" did you work for and HOW did you get the job?

*dria* · Dec 11, 2008, 09:33 PM

Re: case manager

I promise you that I and other posters have not misinformed you in previous threads....the CCM requires CM work experience..1 year under a CCM supervisor or 2 years without. There is simply no way around it...you get the job, then the CCM.

Here is a direct link to the eligibility requirements:
http://www.ccmcertification.org/pages/14frame_set.html

The requirements are clearly defined, and the info is straight from the source. I strongly encourage you to read thru the entire guide.

I personally see little value in the Kaplan cert, I can think of a better way to spend $4K, but other posters have found the program helpful and felt that it gave them an edge.

From what I've learned in speaking with CMs in other roles/companies/location, the value of the CCM cert varies widely. I'm not quite sure whether you are interesting in working for a medical or worker's comp insurance company. From what I've gathered (and I have no WC experience, so the WC CMs are welcome to correct me if I'm wrong) the CCM is more desired by the medical companys vs the WC companies.

I also think that the status of working from home varies by company. Mine (a national medical insurer) continues to send nurses home. I've been with my company for a number of years, and just went home about a month ago. It's a great perk to be sure, but make sure that you're not saying in your interviews that the reason you want to get into CM is so you can work from home (I'm not assuming that's what you're saying, just telling you what NOT to say to get hired.)

Quickbeam · Dec 15, 2008, 12:05 PM

Re: case manager

My comments were definitely geared towards Work Comp case management. Sorry for any confusion.

"Work Life Balance" has apparently become a catch phrase for job seekers not wanting work to take up too much of their life. My friends have seen this translate in real world terms to "I don't want to do anything but I'd like a nice salary". That's why the red flag.

All about me/possibly irrelevant:
I loved case management and found that it paid as well as local hospital work. I was office based although my old company does now offer telecommuting. I left because the comapny eliminated the pension plan; I wanted to get into a pension-bearing job while I was young enough to accumulate some years.

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case manager

case manager

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