Case Management Qualifications

Trauma Columnist · Sep 20, 2004

Personally I view this as extremely important but found out recently that my co-workers - other case managers don't. Interesting to find out what answers you get.

tsmith1 · Sep 22, 2004

Personally I view this as extremely important but found out recently that my co-workers - other case managers don't. Interesting to find out what answers you get.

I also view previous clinical experience as very important. How can a case manager do the type of critical thinking necessary to do the job without first hand knowledge of the diagnosis and how it is cared for.

We recently had a case manager hired right out of nursing school. It was felt to be a political move because her mother was a district supervisor in the company and the job description specifically calls for clinical experience.

I also fel badly if this nurse ever has to go into the hospital. Without use of the knowledge learned in nursing school, right after school, it will be hard to recover and be a good clinical nurse.

Thank you for responding.:)

Euskadi1946 · Sep 22, 2004

I also view previous clinical experience as very important. How can a case manager do the type of critical thinking necessary to do the job without first hand knowledge of the diagnosis and how it is cared for.
We recently had a case manager hired right out of nursing school. It was felt to be a political move because her mother was a district supervisor in the company and the job description specifically calls for clinical experience.
I also fel badly if this nurse ever has to go into the hospital. Without use of the knowledge learned in nursing school, right after school, it will be hard to recover and be a good clinical nurse.
Thank you for responding.:)

Most case management positions require at least 5 years experience in the hospital setting with lots of med/surg background. I have 4 yrs of med/surg background and 7 yrs of ob/gyn experience. I've worked for an HMO and now work for the state of Utah and hope to become certified in case management down the road. I love it. Don't miss the hospital at all nor the 12 hour night shifts. Work 4/10 per week and have 3 days off plus holidays.

bliss · Sep 22, 2004

I have been giving a lot of thought to becoming a case manager. I just don't know where to start. I am an RN (AS) with over 27 years experience in the hospital setting, mostly ER and some Home Health.

Can anyone tell me where to start with this process?

Thanks,

Bliss

Trauma Columnist · Sep 25, 2004

What about job shadowing another case manager at your hospital? BTW - at my hospital, a BSN is the minimum for a case manager and many have thier MSN.

studentnurseinmd · Aug 18, 2005

Hi. I was wondering if I could be a case manager after 2-3 years of clinical experience? I will graduate this spring... It seems like many of you have a lot of clinical experience, but what about those of us who would have only a couple years and interested in Case management? Also, how much are they paid?

rhuston735 · Aug 28, 2005

I have 8+ years of Case management experience. (9 yrs clinical) Home Health was what got me interested in it. I would recommend that you start there. It will help you grasp the concept of case management as you learn about it. I, personally, would recommend this avenue for anyone with only a couple of years of clinical experience under their belt. It is not something you can learn overnight.

bluemerle · Jan 2, 2006

Do you need to have a BSN in order to qualify for a Case Management position? Would a ASN work?

Thanks!

Melody:p

rylaff · Jan 3, 2006

Melody, that depends. Most of our case managers are ASNs, with a few having BSN and above.

With the way our hospital utilizes case managers, I feel it is imperative to have good clinical experience. For example, I was an RN on a step down unit for years before switching over to case managent for that same area. My experience in that area was necessary to manage that case4 load.

It is so hard to find experienced case management. Our goal in our hospital is a twenty to one ratio, but finding experienced CMS is next to impossible.

Trauma Columnist · Jan 3, 2006

Our hospital requires BSN as a minimum but that is due to the general consensus of our administration that a four year degree is essential to be a CM.

wincha · Jan 6, 2006

Would your hospital accept a RN that has a BA(over 20 years ago) and also more than 20 years of clinical experience? I don't see how a BSN would make that much of a difference considering I graduated 20 years ago and then went to nursing school. Also there is not any incentive to get my BSN as far as in pay increases. If I was going back to school I would get my masters. I am looking into this area and do have less than a year in disease management also ( a project that some of us nurses volunteered to help in with pay)