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Become a Nurse Case Manager

Learn about the many opportunities for nurse case managers.
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The Basics

What you'll do: You'll coordinate care for patients recovering from severe injuries or illnesses and those suffering from chronic conditions. Ensuring that patient medical needs are met in the most effective and efficient manner, you'll typically specialize in a specific area, such as AIDS, transplants, cardiovascular disease or elderly care.

Where you'll work: Hospitals, managed care facilities, at government and home health care agencies, and as independent consultants

Degree you'll need: Bachelor's degree

Average annual salary: $46,542 - $80,993

Cities with highest employment level: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Tampa
 

 
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Job Duties

nurse case manager

Among their many responsibilities, nurse case managers help patients understand their current health status and treatment options. As patient advocates, they work with other members of a medical team to ensure that patients receive a cohesive treatment plan.

Additionally, nurse case managers perform a number of other essential tasks:

  • Communicate with patients and their families about a patient's heath condition
  • Promote quality, cost-effective care and patient outcomes
  • Plan and coordinate care, resources, and services on a case-by-case basis
  • Advocate for individualized options that meet a patient's specific health needs

Case management nurses work in hospitals, managed care facilities, at government and home health care agencies, and as independent consultants.

Nurse Case Manager Education

Typically, nurse case managers hold a 4-year bachelor's degree in nursing and have attained certification through the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC), or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Many nurse case managers also choose to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialty in case management or a related field.

Along with traditional classroom programs, nurse case manager online training also provides the relevant health care and business education that nurse case managers need. For working adults looking for a convenient, flexible alternative to full-time schooling, nurse case manager online training allows them to arrange classes around existing commitments to work and family.

Career Outlook

The current nursing shortage continues to create a high demand for registered nurses (RNs) across the country. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that employment of RNs would grow 23 percent between 2006 and 2016.

And case managers, in their effort to increase cost-effectiveness and efficiency in treatment, have become an invaluable asset to health care facilities. Their work in coordinating health services not only helps facilities lower costs, but also improves patient health outcomes.

Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010
Commission for Case Manager Certification, 2009
NurseCredentialing.org, 2009
PayScale.com, 2011

 
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Nurse Case Manager Career at a Glance

A Rewarding Career

Nurse case managers ensure that patients are getting the treatment they need in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Their patients are very grateful for their help and expertise.

Nursing Careers at a Glance

Access basic information on many nursing career specialties.

How to Pay for Nursing School

  • As nursing school tuition has increased, a rising number of nursing scholarships and grants have become available for qualifying candidates. Nursing school is expensive, but there are many grants, loans, scholarships, work-study and loan forgiveness programs available to hard-working students. Gain access to nursing school financial first aid.

How to Get Nursing Scholarships

  • Many scholarship and grant opportunities are available to nursing students to encourage people to enter the nursing field and help alleviate the increasing nursing shortages. With a little research, you can learn how to obtain this free money for your nursing school education. Learn how to uncover these nursing scholarship and grant sources to help free you from financial worries.