People with medical conditions such as cancer or diabetes often receive care from a number health-care providers, which can be overwhelming or difficult to coordinate. Registered nurse (RN) case managers are responsible for helping these patients.

Function

An RN case manager serves as an intermediary for physicians, specialists and therapists who provide care for a particular patient. The RN case manager schedules appointments, shares information and asks questions to ensure that all of the care providers work together.

Features

RN case managers visit patients at home, in hospitals or in long-term-care centers to evaluate their progress and provide patients and their families with updates and education. RN case managers communicate with health-care providers in person, by phone and by email.

Types

Some RN case managers work for federal or state government agencies, and others are employed by hospitals or long-term-care centers. Non-profit agencies sometimes provide case managers to patients suffering from specific conditions, and some insurance companies assign case managers for subscribers to specific health-insurance policies.

Skills

RN case management requires skills in listening and communicating. Successful case managers are team players, personable and sympathetic.

Requirements

An RN case manager has a two-year associate's degree, three-year hospital certification or a four-year bachelor's degree program and also has a state-issued license to serve as a registered nurse. Most employers prefer RN case managers to have credentials from the Commission for Case Manager Certification, which requires the successful completion of a written examination.

Source:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Registered Nurses

Affinity Plan: RN Case Manager Job Description

CCMC: Case Manager Certification