Nursing Student Interested in CM

[godbless-yute]

Hi, I'm a nursing student, and I'm in the process of figuring out what area I want to go into. I want it to be something that I can do long term...even when I start getting old and tired (no offense to anyone). Can someone tell me what exactly CMs do? Do you have to have been in a particular specialty (ie Med/Surg) or could you have been anywhere (ex. Post Partum) before you can be a CM?? I won't get rotation in everything while I'm in school, so I'm trying to do some research on my own. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks:specs:

[edgwow]

Case management is a job for experienced nurses that have seen and done a lot in the hospital and are tired of the backbreaking work. You need good clinical skill experience medical surgical is helpful, but large teaching hospitals, like the one I work at, have case managers that do chart reviews for insurance companies, called utilization review, and we have nurses with backgrounds in trauma, dialysis, cancer, just medical, just surgical and OB and neuro. Can you go into this field as a new grad? I don't think so.

Case managers also work for insurance companies with specializing in certain types of cases ie: a dialysis case manager might call the pts dialysis center, follow up with missed appoiintments, make frequent telephonic contact and do ongoing pt education. One of the hard things is a lot of it is up to the pt to the pt to follow through. Like learning an appropriate renal diet and then following it.

There is also contact with discharge planners in the hospital. Where I work, I am discharge planner, utilization review and case manager all wrapped up into 1. I was told it takes about a yr and a half to really feel comfortable being a case manager, I have done it for about 8 months and they are probably right. I am just learning the ropes.

[vlntrnurs]

You can find more information about CM at:

http://www.ccmcertification.org/

ANCC has information about CM at:

http://www.nursecredentialing.org/NurseSpecialties/CaseManagement.aspx

There is also certification as an RN-auditor. You can find more information at:

http://www.rn-coder.com

http://www.rn-coder.com/traninginstitutes/rn-auditor/course-outline.html

The CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality) is offered through the Healthcare Quality Certification Board. More information can be found at:

http://www.cphq.org/