Can a new nurse be a case manager for a Home Health Agency

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I am a May 2013 graduate and although I am 31, I do not have job experience since I was a stay at home mom during my 20's. I decided to go to nursing school and I got my license in June. I am desperate for a job and have applied everywhere and the ONLY call I have gotten so far is an interview tomorrow as a case manager for a Home Health facility in my area (West texas). It would be great seeing as I live 100 miles from any large city, which I was thinking I would have to commute the 100 miles. The problem is that I have NO EXPERIENCE period with home health. I told the man on the phone I have never had a nursing job and do not have experience in anything, especially managing. He said that I probably had more experience than I give myself credit for and getting through nursing school and clinicals is a big part of experience. I am terrified. What goes into case managing and would a new nurse be able to "hack it"? I would never want to let anyone down, and God knows I need a job (I haven't even been offered it yet obviously) but can anyone tell me what goes into case managing and if it can be learned by a new nurse.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

Scary! Too many things that can go wrong. Your license is on the line if something goes wrong and you are trying to tell a nurse what to do without experience. I would suggest working in the field before managing. And even before that, I would suggest getting experience before that in a hospital. You have no safety net if you are alone with a pt or you are helping a nurse over the phone help a pt that you can't even see.

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I agree! I was just wondering if what they are calling a "case manager" is the field nurse? Either way, as much as I hate to, I am sure I am going to have to bow out. I want so bad to work in a hospital and get some experience with how things work. I wouldn't even know how to begin to delegate assignments. It would be just my luck to lose my license before I even get started. Thanks for your input.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

Keep trying and eventually something will come through. I got my start with a PDN agency that had a daycare for medically fragile kids. I practiced my skills there along with learning skills for the home environment. But just be careful not to take a job that could be risky. Even worse with an employer looking for a warm body with a license. You sound like you are being cautious and trying to do the right thing. Someone will see that and realize you will be a great new grad to hire in the right place. Good luck!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I would be wary of any outfir that would hire a new grad as a case manager. Case managers need the judgement that come with experience.

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I disagree. I work for a home health agency that has hired new grads and they're doing great! I work in the field as the RN case manager. Basically, you're making sure all the disciplines are updating you, at least weekly, and following the plan of care. If you're going to be an actual manager, in the office all day, inputing the 485, dealing with staffing issues etc, then I would say not a job for a new grad.. If you have the proper training, experienced preceptor, management team with high standards of care and ask questions, until you're blue in the face, you'll do just fine.. Never set yourself up for failure, until you try it. Who cares if you've never worked in healthcare before.. Obviously, the company that called you, for an interview, doesn't. You stood out from the rest. Good Luck!! If you declined the interview call them back. Say you thought about it and would like to proceed and want to find out what the job entails. We all were a new grad once. We all took the leap, to start something new and out of our comfort zones!!

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Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
I would be wary of any outfir that would hire a new grad as a case manager. Case managers need the judgement that come with experience.

How about in my case......I have been an LPN in LTC for 7 years. Been an LPN in HHC/PDN for over 1. When I pass my RN boards, my manager wants me to do visits as an RN for 6months then go to case manager. What do you think? Is 6 months enough time? Too much? Not enough? What is involved in case management?

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