Mental/Behavioral Health CM: Does anybody do this? please help : )

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Specializes in Ambulatory Case Management, Clinic, Psychiatry.

I am wondering about the salary-- recently I was offered a job doing mental health CM (requirements were RN or LICSW (social worker) or LMHC (licensed mental health counselor), but the pay was significantly lower than my current salary, so I declined. I just got a call for an interview for another behavioral health CM position (my background is in psych), but I'm worried the pay range may be the same, as the requirements are the same. Do any nurses here work in BH CM??

Thank you!! :)

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I worked as a tech in psych and our pay along with the nurses was very low. Most of the nurses make well under 30/hr.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

Pay depends on the region of the country and your work experience. Thus, if the new position is close in geography to the other position, the offer will be similar and along the low end of the scale if you lack RN CM work experience. By the way, if you want to change to CM and can afford the lower pay, then do it now!

RN CMs with work experience are in demand so it is the right time to make the switch. For example, with a little RN CM work experience you may be able to land another CM job within 1-2 years and demand a higher rate (I am speaking from experience). Also, you will not be limited to BH. You can work for other industries or specialties later too (I have co-workers that have done this multiple times and some who currently hold two CM PT jobs to provide flexibility). On the other hand, if you remain in one specialty, that will help to increase your value to future employers (again, speaking from experience). Good luck.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Case Management, Clinic, Psychiatry.

Thanks for your response. I was offered this position today-- behavioral health CM-- and the pay *is* lower than my current position-- 6-7k less ($63,500). In response to the other poster, I make more than $30 in my current position-- I am happy with my salary-- but I don't like the idea of moving to a job with less pay and less flexibility (now I make my own hours, schedule, am pretty much my own boss).

However, I'm bored with my job and want to get into CM. I am wondering if doing behavioral health CM, after only doing psych nursing (have been a psych nurse for 5 yrs, no med surg exp except 1 yr as a nursing assistant during nursing school) will limit me in CM. I have applied to many medical CM positions, and was offered 1 (I turned it down bc it was work from home, not what Im looking for), but they wanted me specifically bc of my psych background. At any rate, I am worried about being further pigeonholed into psych (I dont like med surg hospital nursing- not a good fit) -- but am wondering if I should hold out for a higher paying med CM position and/or try to do some per diem med surg/home care/LTC work to boost my resume.

Also, although I work in psych now, I work mostly w/clts with medical conditions (diabetes, COPD, heart disease), do home visits, do a lot of health/med teaching, run health education groups, do staff health education training, etc.

Thoughts??

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

Once you have some CM work experience then find a per diem job in a different industry. Per Diem jobs will help boost your resume and allow you more flexibility in being able to move around this industry. Also, in a year or two you can earn a cert in Case Management that will make you more marketable. Good Luck.

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