How to get into Case Management

I would like to know the answer to this too. I am currently an "old" new grad (Spring 2013) and I'm working on a med-surg urology floor. However, I would love a career in case management one day :)

Most employers want experienced nurse case managers. Thus, the best way to break into the field is to talk to the hiring manager of your current or past employer's Case Management department. Ask him/her if he/she is willing to hire and train you when the day comes that you are ready to leave bedside nursing. After 1-2 years you should have enough experience to move on to other Case Management jobs if you wish. In the meantime, become acutely involved with the discharge plans for your patients (or at least know and learn to understand the decisions being made to develop and execute the plan).

Also, if you work within the hospital setting, you will probably round with MDs and case managers. If you do this, it is a perfect time to ask the case manager of your patients how you can help to move the discharge process along. Sometimes it is as easy as getting your patient bumped up on the diagnostic list or communicating with the Case Manager that the patient was walked on your shift, had a BM, met medical goals, is asking to go or has concerns, is in need of equipment, and/or either has a lack of a support system or has a fantastic support system (Yes, we can read this in the chart and perform our own assessments, but the process goes faster when nurses communicate barriers or lack thereof and are aware of the things we are aware of too without being asked or told).

I agree that the knowledge/talent for CM depends largely on the environment where you work. In all areas a CM must be a listener; with the pt, the pt's family, doctors and nurses providing care, and MSW's if involved. It's much like what happens when a neighbor comes to you for guidance. There's information to offer and limits to observe. I always told my case managers (a community-based team) to communicate as if that is the most important thing you have to do at the time. Many nursing programs are offering courses in case management since it is an integral element within Managed Care. The CM is a co-ordinator of all the other services available within the healthcare system and the community, family; and don't forget the insurance provider. I'm all for the courses and have seen them in university and community college programs alike. A good resource is Case Management Society of America (CMSA). Take a gander at their web site. The variety and functions of Case Managers has grown at an amazing rate.

I've recently retired from ~50 yrs in the world of nursing; ED, ICU, Med-Surge, Ortho and 35 yrs in CM.

Will doing Public Health campaigns count to get you in?

Case managers by definition have to have a good working knowledge of how patient care and patient care systems work, levels of care, and excellent knowledge of roles and communications with physicians/nurses/specialties/other team members. You may have a great background in communications, writing, and telephony (and bless you for them, because you will need all of those), but nobody will hire you as a nurse case manager in any capacity without at least several years of working RN nursing experience.