Hospital Case Management?

[Tina, RN]

Hi everyone!

I'm feeling a bit torn, and wanted to pick some brains. :)

I have my CCM, and was doing workers comp case management prior to having my children. I loved it! Then, I stayed home for years, took an RN refresher course, worked per diem in a hospital float pool, then landed a job as a school nurse full time. I loved doing case management, but the schedule for school nursing is so great when you have kids!! Still, I occasionally fantasize about doing case management again... My kids are a little bit older now. A nearby hospital is hiring some full time nurse case managers, due to "department expansion". I am thinking of going to an open house, just to get some more info.

What is it like to do case management in an acute care facility? I know it would involve a lot of discharge planning, and watching length of stays. Is it as stressful as being a floor nurse? I imagine it would be a different type of stress. Do you get all the same customer service complaint crap that the floor nurses get (ex: I wanted the gold-plated wheelchair at home, not the silver! Zero stars for you!)? If the hospital's floor nurses are unionized, do the case managers belong to the union, too? If you've never been a cm in a hospital, is it very tough to acclimate?

I suppose I'm looking to see if anyone will tell me to run far away from hospital case management! Gaaaah! I'm so indecisive! LOL

Thanks, all!!!