Case management MSN

[iheartangelinajolie]

I'm currently enrolled in a Clinical nurse leader masters program but found a MSN program for case management. I'm currently working as a case manager and love it but I'm not sure if I should switch programs. I only have my ADN and having my MSN is my goal but I'm not sure what to do. I want to finish what I started with my CNL program but I do want to further my career in case management. Any feedback would greatly be appreciated. I haven't read or found too many positive reviews on the clinical nurse leader position which is making me question the program but another classmate told me it is a step closer to the NP program. Please help anyone!

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

Your answer depends... For example, I was asked this question by a friend this past year who wanted to do the opposite. She had 1 semester left in her program and wondered if she should switch because she no longer wanted to MSN in CM and would have preferred the MSN in CL. I told her 1 semester is not worth the switch financially IMO. However, if she really felt adamant about not completing the last semester (the last semester consisted of too many roadblocks for her and she no longer had a desire to jump through the hoops for the degree), then to make the switch despite adding an additional year to her completion date.

By the way, Masters degrees are not like Bachelor's degrees. If you have a Masters, you are telling the world that you are a professionally trained in a particular area and that it is what you are doing with your career in general. On the other hand, very few employers look down at any Master's degree in Nursing degree and, in general, can care less about your specialization for your MSN. NP and CNS licenses and preparation vs. others are more specific and treated differently than non-NP or CNS programs. Thus, like I told my friend, it depends on you. What program do you want to complete and do you feel is worth paying to complete because neither an MSN in CL or an MSN in CM will do any more or less for you in the employment market at this time?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I work for an insurance company as a case manager. None of my coworkers or supervisors have the MSN with a case management specialization. In my humble opinion, switching to the case management concentration area is unnecessary. One or more of the CM certifications (ACM, CCM, RN-BC) would suffice.

I'm currently enrolled in a MSN-nursing education program because I feel this is a general specialty area in the context of opening the doors to various options such as staff development, case management, hospital unit educator, infection control, research, etc. The MSN-CNL is a good pathway and I wouldn't switch to a more narrow focus such as CM.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

I would recommend the MSN - CNL role.

When you think of role-specification, when compared to the other MSN degrees: NP, CNS, CM, CRNA, Educator, and on, the CNL role is more like a broad spectrum antibiotic that works in any setting, versus, for example, Cipro, which is designed for a certain effect.

Being a CNL really gives you a large degree of flexibility in nursing. You do not get pidgeon-holed into a silo of care.

You can practice inpatient or outpatient.

You have the same set of advanced nursing CNL skills that allow you to do what it is that you do in ANY Microsystem.

[mocham]

I totally agree with your view. Finish the MSN-CNL. There are plenty of accreditations for case management that can be had after working in the field for as few as 1-2 years if one wants to give that a shot. The MSN-CNL can be useful in many other areas, but will also help within the role of case management.