What does a nurse case manager do?
When effectively performed, nurse case manager job duties and responsibilities help patients who have multiple health conditions, difficult-to-control chronic conditions, disabilities or other challenges get the care they need. Patients assigned to nurse case managers may have better health outcomes due to the individualized attention. Other staff at your facility, institution or agency can use the plans and information that they provide to work more efficiently. In addition, a nurse case manager can cut down on the risk of medical errors by reviewing prescribed medications and test results. Overall, a nurse case manager can improve the quality of care your facility, institution or agency provides and lower its exposure to risk.
Nurse case manager skills and qualifications
Candidates most likely to succeed in nurse case manager careers will possess certain key qualifications. Among these important skills are:
- Extensive knowledge of medicine and anatomy
- Strong verbal and written communication skills to interact with patients and medical providers
- Interpersonal skills to work with people of a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
- Multitasking skills to provide care for multiple patients
- Analytical skills to review documented medical information and use it to inform care plans
- Problem-solving skills to identify shortcomings of care plans and revise them accordingly
- Familiarity with word processors, spreadsheets, electronic record management programs and other software
- Organizational skills to plan patient appointments and meetings and to coordinate the activities of medical providers
Nurse case manager experience requirements
Typically, quality candidates for nurse case manager positions will have at least two to three years of experience working as a registered nurse. You may wish to prioritize the candidates whose clinical experience involved caring for patients most similar to the patients that you serve. If your facility, agency or institution will only have one nurse case manager on staff, candidates with more experience may be better positioned to work independently. New hires who can benefit from training and assistance provided by other nurse case managers may not need as much experience.
Nurse case manager education and training requirements
Nurse case manager careers typically require a valid registered nursing license issued by the state’s licensing agency. Normally, individuals must hold an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing and pass a written examination to receive a license. If your open position will have little supervision or support, you may wish to look for candidates with a Master of Nursing degree in case management or who have gained Nursing Case Management Certification (CMGT-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Nurse case manager salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a nurse case manager is $39,663 per year. However, employers of case managers determine the specific annual pay rates to offer based on the condition of the local job market, budgetary constraints and candidates’ education and experience.
Nurse case manager salary expectations
-
Common salary:
24.91 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
7.25 -54.55 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
If this case manager job description doesn’t fully capture the requirements of your open position, check out these related roles:
Nurse case manager job description FAQs
How do nurse case manager duties vary based on employer type?
Hospice care nurse case managers care for patients who are in the final stages of terminal illness and focus most on ensuring their comfort and supporting their families. A hospital nurse case manager typically coordinates the activities of physicians, therapists and nursing staff caring for patients who are currently admitted or have been recently discharged. Health insurance nurse care managers assist individuals covered by insurance plans and may work with numerous doctors’ offices, hospitals and outpatient clinics. Long-term care nurse case managers often directly supervise the facility’s nursing staff and are responsible not only for planning patient medical care but also for identifying potential recreational and social activities to keep residents active.
What is the difference between a care coordinator and a nurse case manager?
Care coordinator and nurse case manager job duties are largely similar. Both coordinate the health care that their patients receive. However, nurse case managers have more medical training and are responsible for developing plans of care, while coordinators usually implement plans created by other medical professionals.
What qualities make a good nurse case manager?
Candidates who come across as empathetic and good listeners may be well suited to nurse case manager careers. Because medical science is always advancing, prospective medical case managers need a passion for learning and a desire to continue to develop their skills over time. Patience and emotional resiliency are also important.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
