What is a nurse case manager? A nurse case manager develops long-term care plans and coordinates care services for geriatric patients, those with chronic conditions, and other patients with complex health needs. Case managers need a nursing degree, license, and clinical experience.
A nurse case manager develops long-term care plans for patients with complex health issues. This can be an ideal career path for a registered nurse (RN) who wants to develop long-term working relationships with patients. The process for how to become a nurse case manager begins with earning a nursing degree, obtaining RN licensure, and gaining clinical experience at the bedside.
You could get started sooner with Concordia University, St. Paul’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 54 college credits, CSP’s Accelerated BSN program enables you to graduate in as few as 16 months after completing any needed prerequisites.
Before getting started, take a closer look at the nurse case manager career, including roles and responsibilities, typical work settings, and required skills. Then, explore how to become a nurse case manager.
What Is a Nurse Case Manager?
RN case managers develop long-term care plans, coordinate care services, and advocate for their patients. They collaborate closely with other members of the patient’s care team, including physicians, specialists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other providers.
A nurse case manager works with patients with complex medical issues, including those recovering from serious illnesses and injuries. They often work with geriatric patients, as well as those recovering from major surgery or dealing with chronic conditions.
What Does a Nurse Case Manager Do?
The main responsibilities of an RN case manager include:
Develop and Monitor Care Plans
RN case managers thoroughly review the patient’s health history, medications, and current health issues, interviewing the patient about their needs, challenges, and goals. They develop long-term care plans in collaboration with the patient and family caregivers, and they monitor those care plans over time, adjusting as needed.
Coordinate Patient Care Across Providers
Patients with complex health issues often see many different providers across various practice areas. It can be difficult for patients to navigate the healthcare system, so nurse case managers coordinate care across providers and healthcare offices.
Educate Patients and Families
Patient and family caregiver education is an important task for a registered nurse case manager. Case managers educate patients and families about their health conditions and treatment options, answer questions, and direct them to reputable resources for further information as desired.
Navigate Insurance and Community Resources
It can be challenging for patients to advocate for themselves when dealing with insurance companies. Case managers can check insurance coverage and ensure that prior authorization requests are submitted properly. Nurse case managers can also refer patients to community resources.
Help Improve Outcomes and Manage Healthcare Costs
Overall, the work that RN case managers do can help improve patient outcomes by advocating for patients’ needs and helping them better understand their treatment plans. Case managers also help keep healthcare costs lower by serving as liaisons with insurance companies.
Take a closer look at where nurses work beyond the hospital.
Where Do Nurse Case Managers Work?
Case managers are needed in numerous healthcare environments, including hospitals, home health agencies, and rehabilitation facilities. Insurance companies, nursing homes, hospice agencies, and outpatient clinics are other settings where case managers may work. Some even work from home, interacting with patients remotely.
Skills Every Registered Nurse Case Manager Needs
Beyond clinical knowledge and skills, case managers can benefit from a strong understanding of the health insurance landscape. The following skills are helpful in this practice area:
- Communication skills
- Conflict resolution
- Organization
- Patience
- Patient and family caregiver education
- Problem-solving
- Empathy
How to Become a Nurse Case Manager
What is a nurse case manager’s career pathway like? It starts with earning a BSN degree.
Earn a BSN Degree
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree provides broad, foundational knowledge in nursing theories and clinical practices. You’ll complete nursing coursework, participate in skills labs, and enjoy clinical learning experiences at local healthcare facilities.
If you have little to no previous college education, you can apply to a traditional BSN program, which generally takes four years. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 54 college credits, you may be eligible to apply to Concordia University, St. Paul’s ABSN program. Our ABSN curriculum leverages your prior education, enabling you to graduate in as few as 16 months upon completion of prerequisites.
Pass the NCLEX-RN Examination
After graduating with a BSN, you can take the NCLEX-RN. This licensure exam tests your ability to apply nursing knowledge to clinical situations. When presented with case studies, you’ll need to choose the most appropriate response for the patient, prioritizing patient safety.
CSP’s ABSN offers thorough NCLEX-RN preparation. We also recommend that our nursing students spend plenty of time studying for the NCLEX-RN. Most students take the test within a month or two of graduation.
Gain Clinical Nursing Experience
Once you’re a licensed RN, you’ll need to gain at least several years of experience delivering care at the bedside. Choose whichever nursing specialty interests you the most. Medical-surgical nursing provides exposure to a broad patient population and many different types of health issues. Adult-gerontology and geriatrics are other relevant choices.
Pursue Nurse Case Manager Certification
After gaining some clinical experience at the bedside, look for opportunities to transition into case management. You’ll need to gain experience in this area before pursuing certification as a case manager. One certification option is the Board-Certified Case Manager (CCM) credential, offered by the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC).
Discover more about how an accelerated nursing program works?
Nurse Case Manager Salary and Career Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for all types of registered nurses was $97,5500 as of May 2025. RNs can expect robust employment growth for the foreseeable future. The BLS projects a job growth rate of 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average for all professions. At this rate, healthcare employers will hire about 194,700 new nurses throughout the decade.
Individual salary expectations and employment vary based on numerous factors. Earning certification as a nurse case manager may enhance your career path.
Is a Nurse Case Manager Career Right for You?
If developing a care plan is one of your favorite aspects of nursing, then becoming a case manager might be a good choice for you. It might also be a good move if you:
- Are adept at navigating health insurance policies and coverage
- Are interested in stepping away from providing bedside care
- Enjoy developing good working relationships with patients and their family members
- Have strong communication and patient advocacy skills
Additionally, nursing case management often offers more predictable, regular working hours compared to clinical care.
Start Your Nursing Journey at CSP’s Accelerated BSN Program
No matter which career pathway in nursing interests you, you can develop the skills you need to succeed at Concordia University, St. Paul. Our ABSN program emphasizes evidence-based practices and Christian principles while preparing students to serve the needs of culturally diverse patients. Start sooner with rolling admissions and three start dates per year, and graduate in as few as 16 months.
Request information and connect with an admissions advisor today to get started.