What are the best case manager qualifications and training to get ahead?

What is the best training for becoming a case manager? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective case manager?

What do non-traditional career paths look like?

I am interested in becoming a Case Manager with your organization but would like to get more information as to where the job opportunities exist is Pittsburgh. Thank you for your assistance.

Justin Uwaife said: I am interested in becoming a Case Manager with your organization but would like to get more information as to where the job opportunities exist is Pittsburgh. Thank you for your assistance.

Justin, this is a job forum for people to discuss career related subjects. It's not part of any particular oragnization. First you want to do a job search. Here is one I did to help get you started:
www.indeed.com/jobs?radius=&q=Case+Manager&l=Pittsburgh%2C+PA

Click on a job listing you're interested in and you'll be directed to the original post where you will be supplied instructions on how to apply.

Host said: What is the best training for becoming a case manager? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective case manager?

What do non-traditional career paths look like?

Hi Emma, I am a nurse case manager in Portland Oregon. I have been an RN for 18 years and about a year and a half ago I became interested in a job change. CM is definitely less physical work and more knowledge base, but the stress level is just as high. (Instead of being done at the end of the day like a staff RN in a hospital, you typically have report deadlines always hanging out there... not sure which is better, tell the truth!)
Salary I have found to be the same as in a hospital on day shift: about $28.00 an hour with benefits. I do enjoy the work and am now shopping for a new job in the field, in the Portland area. A CCM certification is a plus and will get you better pay and opportunities.

I agree Corinne, nursing in general just seems to be a very stressful profession no matter where you work. You just can't seem to get away from it.

Greetings!
I have been a casemanager now for some 28 years 4 of which were spent w/the Office Of State guardian. Career paths are different with regard to the type of training required. Entry level positions, generally require a minimum of a bachelors degree. Optimally, training should be ongoing throughout the course of your career. Some agaencies, particularly private ones, can provide only limited training, while others provide virtually none @ all. Learning a new job can be quite challenging, even difficult without @ least some guidelines. One of the greatest impediments to self growth in any casemanagement job is an overemphasis on paperwork to meet the federal & state reuirements of the given agency regarding patient care & delivery of services to clients. In fact in many instances, the amount of time spent documenting client services, & level of progress is inversely porportional to time spent with the clients we are hired to serve. This equation is often carried to such extremes in some agencies, that it becomes difficult, if not impossible to effectively manage the size of a given caseload. Purely in terms of numbers some case managers, including myself a few years back were required to manage, & document progress on caseloads as large as 140. This figure however, is certainly not representative of all casemanagers, who on the average can generally anticipate caseload variance of anywhere from 25-50 clients. This would of course, depend upon the type of casemanagement you choose, & the given population of clients served. To truly be effective in our delivery of servicesw/the populations we serve whether, medical, or psychiatric, we are going to have to begin to realize, that more casemanagers will be needed to effectively manage larger resident populations. Purely in terms of numbers, a facility population of 170 residents should have a minimun of 6 casemanagers, which breaks down to approximately 25-30 per caseload. Your comments?

How would this apply to the Diversion side of Case Management? Do the quals stay the same(bachelors degree)?

Best way to become a case manager is just 'jump in'-but bargain for as long an orientation as you can get. Expect the pay to be lower than staff nursing, and just if not more, stressful. A few good years of med-surg nursing under your belt first is the best experience to have going into this. It will take a nurse new to case management at leat 6 months in my opinion to 'get the hang of it' Dealing with patients, their families and expectations, the docs and learning all the insurance stuff-which changes every year-is daunting, but there is no oncall, nights or weekends (usually). Get certified in case management as that will open up other career paths as well ie insurance, workmans comp etc.

Just be aware, the same if not more stress is there, just different causes.

do you need to be a licensed RN to be a case manager? do hospitals require you to be one?

I am an rn that has worked as a pharma rep for 15 years and now must return to nursing (company downsizing) How do I get into case management. I am a diploma grad working on bsn- done in 1 year. I also am interested in psych. I have taken hours of ceus for both and review courses but you cant sit for cert without recent clinical experience. Augh!! I'm in a catch 22 because I cant get hired without experience and cant get certified without clinical experience. Whats all this nursing shortage I keep hearing about!!!!!!! Frustrated beyond belief.

Don't do it! I came into the field of human services with high hopes and dreams. Started out working with emotionally disturbed teenage sex offenders, group homes, psychiatric wards, and now mental health case management for the SMI population. For ten years, i have worked harder than i ever expected and at age 32 have gray hair that shows the stress i have experienced. It is truly a learning experience, but at a very high price. This field will fill a void temporarily and answer questions unanswered....it will fill that need to help others, but in the end it will wear and tear on you and ultimately turn your life upside down. If you are able to help people like friends or family....stick with that...because after immersing yourself into this field, you will have little left to give to your family or the energy to build one. You can love this field, but it will never love you back...and that hss been my experience...i am now praying and looking for a way to return to school and do something different. Unfortunately due to the bad economy, this change will not be easy. Good luck, just be aware and take care of yourself in this field. It is no joke.