Start as a case manager...huh?

[shynurse]

I recently went to an open house where the recruiter offered me a case management position. Thankful i am that someone wants to hire me with no experience, however if you start as a case manager is that considered experience when i try to apply for a job at a hospital. My other concern is that i know that a case manager advocates for her patients and with this particular job i will be in an office does anyone know what i may have to look forward to doing. Finally in you opinion should i just wait or take the job?

[mtngrl, ASN, RN]

I've been a Case Manager for over one year now. I still go out into the field & visit all my patients at least q.o.w., but mostly weekly. I do wound Vac's , dressing changes, Sterile Central line dressing changes, Access Ports, blood draws, Change indwelling Cath's, give shots , total body assessments & supervise LPN's & CNA's.

I believe I have kept my skills as a case manager, so it depends on the agency. I love no week-ends, holidays, nights or call :)

Wow. I don't even have to have CPR at my job (i do renew it anyway). I coordinate services for a Medicaid long term care program.

[Copper4]

I really think it depends on what type of case management you will be doing. I have worked in acute care case management as well as an insurance company. i feel by overall knowledge about healthcare and processes has grown over the years, because you really do need to know what you are talking about when dealing with patients/ families/doctors/insurance companies/vendors/agencies etc... however, the term case management is tossed about very freely these days. I do believe in homecare, what we used to call primary care nurses, are sometimes referred to as case managers because they coordinate a variety of services.

i would recommend as stated earlier going to the specialty site here, or trying the case management association for more info. I am a certified CM and have been able to work in a variety of settings, but for a long time continued to work per diem as a visiting nurse. I do feel you lose the " hands on" skills and confidence if not using them, so that may be another option. I have never heard of a new nurse being hired as a case manager, because of the need for a well rounded knowledge base. Good Luck!