Training for Hospital Case Manager - Pls Help

[SurvivorRN]

I recently interviewed for two case management positions and got two job offers. I have no experience in Case Management but I am an experienced clinical and charge RN.

One offer was with my current organization and they hired me for a part time position- 2 days a week. I will work on the floor for 2 days and hopefully if a full time position opens up..I can transition to full time. The full time nurses tell me that training is for 4-5 weeks and then they handle case loads on thier own. This was the first job offer I got and they needed me to start training immediately.... No weekends but I have to work 2 holidays

Training is a little bit confusing because I am only there two days a week, and I just started three weeks ago.....and the length of my training has been fuzzy....

I just received the 2nd offer at another hospital. This will be full time and the training will be about 12 weeks. Both hospitals have similar hrs and benefits. I really like the 2nd facility because of its reputation and the extensive training I will receive but I am torn about leaving a facility that I am familair with ..I am also concerned about the time for the training....No holidays but I have to work one saturday every 6 months.

For Hospital Case Managers out there...how long was your training when you first started? What facility should I go with? Pls help!! Thank you

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

OP: When I first started in Hospital Case Management, my training/orientation was officially 3 months, but I started taking a case load during my 2nd week. The sooner you get a case load, the better. You cannot be taught Case Management without being provided with hands-on experience. However, similar to floor nursing, you should have someone (preferably a preceptor) to go to when you are new. Thus, I would not be afraid of a short orientation period so long as I am matched up with a go-to Nurse CM to help when I need it.

As for which hospital you should choose? The learning curve for new CMs is very big. The first year has a high turn-over rate (the first year washes out new Nurse CMs at a great rate) because it is confusing, stressful, and there is way too much to learn in a short amount of time to be effective in this job. How fast you learn and adapt may or may not make a difference if you are working full-time vs. part-time.

On the other hand, I personally wanted nothing more to do with bedside nursing when I became a CM, so the choice I made was a full-time CM position. However, you may want to remain in bedside nursing and so the choice you may want to make is to remain with your current facility a little longer. Thus, I think you are the best person to answer this question. Good luck!

[salvadordolly]

Staying with your current facility will soften the learning curve a bit because you know the staff, resources and polcies in your hospital.

[wavecharging-rn]

Sal, your experience at bed side sounds impressive, but you are correct to pause and assess what the correct decision is for your new case management career. On one hand, familiarity with one hospital culture is an advantage, knowing your floor, MD colleagues etc. On other hand, a good orientation to take you to that next level is really important. Large institutions might pay for hospital criteria Milliman training. In addition to join a reputed institution would increase your marketability as an RN CM even further, plus if it's a tertiary institution like mine trauma, cancer center, peds, med school. I am only 3 years at my place, everyone seems to have gotten comfortable w/ me, me with them MDs, floor RNs, cafeteria staff you name it LOL. Of course, my institution does have a culture of kindness program, so you should assess offer no. 2. As you can guess from my userid, vibe is important.