New Case Manager Here that needs some encouragement

Keep your head up I am a month in and it's different from what I'm used to. Take it one day at a time and you will get there. Are you getting orientation?

I agree. One day at a time. I was in Home Health forever, and went into Work Comp case management. You learn SO much everyday and your supervisor is going to know that. I cried MANY MANY days. Messing up, client's complaining about you, physicians yelling you out of their office b/c they don't know state guidelines. Give it a year. You'll know then if you want to stay in it.

Personally, after 3 years... I'm done. I cared too much for the patient's...and you had adjustors and employers breathing down your neck. It's a balancing act that is very difficult. I don't want to sound too negative though. You might love it! It's a worth while learning experience for sure... tears and all. :)

Let me know if you would like my personal email for encouragement! :)

What enviroment do you work? If you work in the hospital setting I can safely tell you that it will take you at least 1 year before you will be confortable with this job. Some major factors are getting to know the resources in your area, developing a relationship with the people that control the resources in your area, and having to negotiate with doctors, insurance companies, etc. to best advocate for the patient. It is a very hard job because not only does it consider the health outcomes of a patient (The easy part if you have a clinical nurse background), but it also involves messy politics, egos, and money! However, despite this the job can be done. Keep working hard, learn and grow from your mistakes, and DO NOT put yourself down. One year from now you may see that you have come a long way; just like everyone else. Good luck!

im not much of a crier but i had my first real shift today (started on wednesday) and i felt like crying. there's so much information to know and i already feel like im not going to succeed. does anyone have any good advice or encouraging words?

I can tell you that if you stick with it you will learn it. I have been working in a hospital floating to several different medical floors and I do not have an acute care background. It is very challenging, but if I can learn and make progress, you can too. Don't give up, I know it is discouraging at times, but it will come.

Hang in there and you will look back and wonder at how much you have learned and grown in the position. Good Luck!

I made myself a note book with the plastic covers and put the documents we use often. Put dividers in the note book with tabs. This will help you stay organzied and help you to remember what each document is used for. You can make notes on them so that you don't forget what they are for. In addition, get a little phone book that you can write numbers in that you use frequently. Take notes and if you have the time, type them up and put them in your note book also. I hope this helps.