Position Overview
A nurse case manager is a registered nurse, who has had great experience in managing the dynamics of patient cases, over a period of time.
He or she is typically responsible to make sure that all patients are provided with care plans that meet their individual requirements, and are tweaked off and on to ensure that the dynamics are seen to.
Position Requirements
Working as a nurse manager means that you have to possess both a degree in nursing, and the required certification, depending on which state you intend to work in.
Apart from this, it is imperative for nurse case managers to possess some knowledge about case management initiatives, including assessing new patients, updating and revising patient health plans, educating patients and their families about health care options, and making clinical decisions for routine patient care.
It is imperative for nurse case managers to be exceptionally well-versed in accurately documenting and submitting medical records, and providing emotional support to patients and their families. Since nurse case managers are essentially very experienced nurses, they might often be asked to perform nursing functions, especially for chronically ill patients, or those requiring extra care.
To see what duties a nurse case manager performs on a regular basis, take a look at the following list:
Nurse Case Manager Duties and Responsibilities
• Assess new patients to determine their medical conditions, and requirements for healthcare.
• Go through existing patients’ healthcare plans, and determine if there is a need to make modifications to them.
• Plan and implement patient care, and monitor quality of provided care to ensure infection control and risk management.
• Identify high risk patients through referrals, and registries, and develop a tracking system for patient care coordination and management.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of assigned patients’ physical, mental, and psychosocial needs.
• Create, develop, and implement care plans to prevent disease exacerbation, and improve outcomes.
• Use set behavioral strategies to help patient adopt healthy behaviors, and improve self-care.
• Follow with patients and their families to determine if the type and extent of care provided is sufficient, and to gauge its efficacy.
• Direct and oversee the daily functions of nursing staff members, in accordance with facility rules and regulations.
• Oversee and lead the implementation and evaluations of individualized patient care plans.
• Provide education to both patients and their families, aiming to keep them updated about conditions.
• Accurately document patients’ records, ensuring their integrity and confidentiality, and make sure that they are retrieved only after verification of the requester is performed.