b'| EDUCATION GUIDECareer GuideCase ManagerSkills and Competencies needed for the positionBy Krystina Ostermeyer RN, BSN, CDEA s a new nurse on a telemetry unit,and things that I would never even consider. educators, and pharmacists to ensure that I hustled daily. I chased call lights,I thought that someday, I would enjoypatients get the services that they need.bed alarms, Alaris pump beeps,being a case manager. If this seems like a big jobit is!telemetry alarms, and even the yells of con-fused patients. I quickly learned how to juggleTHE ROLE OF THE CASE MANAGER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTSmany different patient needs. A case manager is a registered nurse who coordi- Case managers must be registered nurses. As busy as I was, I took notice of thenates care of patients. This involves ensuring thatMost case managers have a Bachelors degree other staff members on my unit. We wereservices are properly utilized, and that patientor an advanced nursing degree, but some all busy, but in different ways. I noticed howcare is provided in a fiscally responsible way. Inhave a Diploma or Associates in nursing. The our respiratory therapists pagers went offaddition, they are considered the experts ofemploying facility will generally have mini-repeatedly as they responded to varioustheir units or clinicsthey are helpful in obtain- mum education requirements.emergencies and patient needs through- ing resources for their patients and help to aidThere are also various certifications avail-out the hospital. I observed our physi- within, between, and outside the facility. able for case managers, and while these cer-cal therapists as they assisted patients inCase managers often work collaborativelytifications are not necessarily required for improving ambulation. I noticed how thewith social workers, especially in hospitals.employment, they improve employability.laboratory technicians expertly drew bloodWorking together, case managers and socialCertifications available include:from patient after patient. workers are able to provide patients with long- American Case Management (ACM) But I was in awe of the case managers. Notterm care or home health care. They alsocertification from the American Case only did these nurses seem to know my job,collaborate with other members of the health- Management Association (ACMA)they knew everything about discharge needs,care team, such as staff RNs, physicians, phys- Certified Case Manager (CCM) cer-ISTOCKfinancial resources, community resources,ical therapists, dietitians, certified diabetestification from Commission for Case www.elitecme.com |2020| EDUCATION GUIDE 9'