Happy Case Management Week!

October 9-15, 2011 marks this year’s week-long celebration, recognizing the contributions and commitments nurse case managers make and educating the public about the significant work they perform.

Pathway Medical Staffing is celebrating Case Management week with a $50 gift card giveaway. All you have to do is tell us one thing that case management brings to the successful delivery of healthcare.

Take a minute to stop by and share your thoughts so that you’ll be entered to win.

As an added bonus, if you like us on Facebook you will double your chances of winning. When you share something on the Nursing Beyond the Bedside wall during Case Management Week, you will be entered in the $50 drawing again!

Here are just a few of the great entries we have already received from your fellow nurse case managers…

“We really get to follow the patient through their full course of hospitalization. We speak with all their doctors to get them in and out of the hospital on time, with all the special services they need. We also set up many outside services for them to help speed along their recovery as fast as can be.” – KBzezinski, RN, CCM (3 Years in Case Management)

“Case management brings a complete collaboration and coordination of team work with all health care professionals and paraprofessionals throughout the care management process. It eases the burden from patients and families navigating the health care system, while preventing repeated hospitalizations.” – Marilyn Samuels (+10 Years in Case Management)

“I believe Case Management brings “Personalization” to Healthcare. A great Case Manager is a patients personal coach and advocate to guide them in receiving the best quality healthcare available. Applying a personal touch within your case management duties shows the patient you care about their health and they are just not a number in the healthcare system.” - Jennifer Johnson (2 Years in Case Management)

Good luck to all of the nurse case managers that have already entered.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts to be entered to win.

Season’s Greetings!

Here are 3 new job opportunities we wanted you to see before the end of 2010.  From all of us at Pathway Medical Staffing, have a very Happy New Year.

Happy Case Management Week!

October 10-16, 2010 marks this year’s week-long celebration, recognizing the contributions and commitments nurse case managers make and educating the public about the significant work they perform.

Pathway Medical Staffing is celebrating Case Management week with a $50 gift card giveaway.  All you have to do is tell us what every successful case manager must know and you will be entered to win.

Take a minute to stop by and share your thoughts so that you’ll be entered to win.

Here are just a few of the great entries we have already received from your fellow nurse case managers… What Every Successful Case Manager Must Know:

“Listen with your heart and lead with your brain. You need to be a patient advocate and also work for the best interest of your company at the same time. This can be a difficult balancing act at times, but the rewards will be worth it.”

“Listening to the patient and truly hearing their individual needs during a health crisis or chronic health problem.”

“Always have a plan B.”

“What you do matters!”

“Always remember that the end goal of case management is to maintain the best optimal health, safety and well being of the client or patient.”

“Always be ready to expect the unexpected!”

“A good knowledge base, excellent communication and interpersonal skills.”

“Patient advocacy and fiscal responsibility are usually a tug of war, but a good Case Manager can find that delicate balance.”

“Every case manager should know that patients are the center of our purpose and if we keep that in mind, we will always make the right decision.”

Good luck to all of the nurse case managers that have already entered.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts to be entered to win.

First Survey to Look at Non-Bedside / Non-Clinical Nursing Salaries in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Pathway Medical Staffing recently released the first annual RN Salary Survey of Non-Clinical / Non-Bedside Nurses.  While there are several published surveys that detail salary trends for nurses, few look at the registered nurse subset in  non-clinical / non-bedside nursing.

This survey examines salaries for experienced registered nurses placed in case management, appeals/denials, utilization review, quality improvement and clinical documentation improvement (CDI) positions, specifically in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The data analyzed in the survey is drawn from documented base salary data for hundreds of registered nurses in these specific non-bedside nursing positions.

2010 Registered Nurse Salary Survey Highlights:

“Average salary in 2009 for a non-clinical / non-bedside registered nurse in the New York Metro area was $83,592.  This is trending upward as of the first quarter 2010.”

“More experience in non-clinical nursing does not always equate to a higher salary.”

“Registered nurse salaries in utilization review, quality improvement and appeals / denials all increased by more than 14% in 2009.”

“Director level salaries in non-clinical / non-bedside nursing were down 30% in 2009 and the trend appears to be continuing in 2010.”

“Non-clinical / non-bedside registered nurses with ‘work at home’ jobs earned an average of $68,000 per year.”

“Registered nurses with a higher level educational degree (BSN, MSN, PhD) earned up to 6.4% more than registered nurses with an associates degree or a diploma in nursing.”

“Registered nurses in non-clinical / non-bedside roles at hospitals earned an average of 5% more than their counterparts working for managed care organizations in 2009.”

For complete survey results, download the 2010 Registered Nurse Salary Survey.

Looking for More Nursing Salary Information?
For more information about nursing salary trends in your area the “Nurse Salary Guide” provides several resources with data from various leading sources.

About Pathway Medical

Since 1998 Pathway Medical Staffing has specialized in recruiting non-bedside and non-clinical nursing professionals for full-time and temporary positions at leading healthcare organizations.  To learn more about Pathway Medical Staffing visit www.pathway-medical.com.

As we work with nurse case managers to help them achieve their career goals, we get many questions about the Certified Case Manager (CCM) credential. Here is some key information that we have shared with case managers that are considering applying for the CCM credential.

What is CCM?

The CCM is the first nationally accredited case manager credential. This credential is awarded by The Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC). The credential acknowledges case managers who have the “expertise, knowledge, and professional experience to provide the right services to patients with serious or complex medical conditions, and/or catastrophic injuries and illnesses,” according to the CCMC.

Why should case management nurses have the CCM credential?

It is becoming increasingly difficult for nurses with an associates degree, or nursing diploma, to find jobs in case management.  Often, case management nurses will pursue a CCM as an alternative to enrolling in a Bachelor’s of Nursing (BSN) program.

While a Certified Case Manager (CCM) credential does not replace a BSN or MSN, it will give you a competitive advantage over your peers that have a similar educational background.

A Certified Case Manager credential signifies to healthcare employers that you have proven experience in the areas of designing and monitoring a care plan, coordinating care, evaluating patient progress and tracking outcomes in satisfaction and cost savings.

We often see that a Certified Case Manager credential has the potential to boost a nurse case manager’s salary by up to $1,500 with some healthcare employers.  Other employers offer bonuses for the completion of a CCM as well as providing nurses with support in preparing for the CCM exam.

What is covered on the Exam?

The Commission for Case Manager Certification has prepared a detailed “Case Management Certification Guide” that will explain the credentials needed to pursue a CCM certification.  The guide also outlines the types of questions covered in the CCM practice-based exam.

Beware of CCM Exam Preparatory Courses!

We have spoken with many nurse case managers that have registered for CCM Prep courses; spending hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars for a prep class billed as being an official CCM preparatory course. In fact, there are no preparatory courses officially recognized by the Commission for Certified Case Managers (CCM).

Given that none of these programs are endorsed by the CCMC, there is no guarantee that the class you register for will adequately prepare you for the CCM Exam.  However, it is advisable to enroll in courses for subject matters covered on the CCM Exam for which you have limited or no knowledge.

Since the exam is practice based, the CCMC suggests it is “important to review information that is not common or special to your own practice settings.” This will help prepare you for the areas you are less familiar with.  When you sign up for a course be sure to find out exactly which areas will be covered (e.g. discharge planning, Medicare / Medicaid, workers compensation, utilization review, case monitoring, etc. ) If you find that the course is only covering the areas that you are extremely familiar with it’s probably a waste of your money.

Connect with other Certified Case Managers

One of the best options for preparing for the exam is to talk to other case managers that are in fields other that your own.  Many nurses form study groups with their peers to share expertise and cover unfamiliar territory in case management.  You can also ask your friends and colleagues that have sat for the exam for tips and advice.

There are also several nursing forums on the Internet where you can pose your CCM prep questions to a larger group of your peers.  We have started a free group on LinkedIn called, Nursing Beyond the Bedside, for non bedside nursing professionals including certified case managers.  Groups like this expose you to a broader network of case management nurses and a place to discuss CCM issues and exam preparation.

When is the next CCM Exam?

The Certified Case Manager Exam is offered several times throughout the year. Take a look at the certified case manager exam schedule.  The application deadlines are often several months prior to the actual exam so you should plan ahead.

It is also important to give yourself plenty of time to complete the application as it is very lengthy.  Since most nurses applying for the CCM Exam are busy with full-time jobs, it may take several weeks to find the time to carefully prepare the application.

Do I need to maintain my CCM?

Yes, case managers do need to maintain their Certified Case Manager designation.  The original certification is valid for five years.  Case mangers are also required to complete eighty continuing education credits over the course of the five year certification period. More detailed information is included in the CCM Renewal Guide from the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC).

More information

For more information about the CCM Exam visit the Commission for Certified Case Managers website at www.ccmcertification.org

If you would like more information about the CCM and how it will impact your nursing career, feel free to:

Call us at (800) 361-0031

Send an email to careers@pathway-medical.com, or

Join the Nursing Beyond the Bedside professional group on LinkedIn.

First Survey to Look at Non-Bedside / Non-Clinical Nursing Salaries in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

At the end of the month, Pathway Medical Staffing will release the first annual RN Salary Survey of Non-Clinical / Non-Bedside Nurses. While there are several published surveys that detail salary trends for nurses, few look at the registered nurse subset in non-clinical / non-bedside nursing.

This survey examines salaries for experienced registered nurses placed in case management, appeals/denials, utilization review, quality improvement and clinical documentation improvement (CDI) positions, specifically in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The data analyzed in the survey is drawn from documented base salary data for hundreds of registered nurses in these specific non-bedside nursing positions.

2010 Registered Nurse Salary Survey Highlights:

“Average salary in 2009 for a non-clinical / non-bedside registered nurse in the New York Metro area was $83,592. This is trending upward as of the first quarter 2010.”

“More experience in non-clinical nursing does not always equate to a higher salary.”

“Registered nurse salaries in utilization review, quality improvement and appeals / denials all increased by more than 14% in 2009.”

“Director level salaries in non-clinical / non-bedside nursing were down 30% in 2009 and the trend appears to be continuing in 2010.”

“Non-clinical / non-bedside registered nurses with ‘work at home’ jobs earned an average of $68,000 per year.”

“Registered nurses with a higher level educational degree (BSN, MSN, PhD) earned up to 6.4% more than registered nurses with an associates degree or a diploma in nursing.”

“Registered nurses in non-clinical / non-bedside roles at hospitals earned an average of 5% more than their counterparts working for managed care organizations in 2009.”

Complete survey results will be released at the end of the month on the Pathway Medical Blog.

About Pathway Medical

Since 1998 Pathway Medical Staffing has specialized in recruiting non-bedside and non-clinical nursing professionals for full-time and temporary positions at leading healthcare organizations. To learn more about Pathway Medical Staffing visit www.pathway-medical.com.

A recent study conducted by Monster.com and the Human Capital Institute regarding employee attitudes and the global recession found that 79% of employees are “aggressively seeking work elsewhere.”  The study noted that 54% of employees have significantly increased their pursuit of new job opportunities and another 23% have stepped up their job search efforts in response to the current economy (1).

Pathway Medical Staffing, a nurse case management and non-clinical nurse recruiting firm, conducted an informal survey to see if these results held true for nurse case managers and other non-clinical nursing professionals. The results proved to be closely aligned with the broader employment study from Monster.com and the Human Capital Institute.

In December 2009 Pathway Medical Staffing surveyed 147 nurse case managers and non-clinical nursing professionals, representing nurses from 23 states (2).

The survey revealed that a whopping 57% of nurse case managers and non-clinical nursing professionals plan to look for a new job in 2010. Not surprisingly, the majority (53%) of nurse case managers indicated that they plan to look for a new job in order to increase their salary.

Click to Enlarge Image

However, there are several other areas that are causing these specialzed nurses to look for employment elsewhere.  Leading the reasons was 41% of respondents indicating that they were looking for a job that is more challenging, makes better use of their experience and / or finding a job that will help move to the next level of their career.  Closely following were 31% of respondents that indicated they were seeking new employment opportunities for better benefits than they currently have with their present employer.

Other motivators for finding a new job included: being closer to home (19% of respondents), better schedule (14% respondents) and plans to semi-retire and search for project or temporary work (5% respondents).

While most of the job market is still in a slump, there is good news for nurse case managers and non-clinical nurses that are searching for new jobs.  In a December 28, 2009 article, The Wall Street Journal reported that “Healthcare is expected to continue to see a surge in hiring with more than four million new openings estimated by 2018… [including] new specialties, particularly in case management (3).”

What can you do to kick start your Nursing Career in 2010?

If you’re considering making a job change you can start by exploring current job opportunities in nurse case management and non-clinical nursing to get a feel for what’s available.  You may be surprised by the range of open positions at some of the most respected healthcare organizations.

You can also sign up to receive email alerts for nurse case manager and non-clinical nursing jobs.  Alerts will immediately notify you when new jobs become available; giving you priority access to opportunities that meet your requirements

Don’t let  the stress of updating your resume and preparing for interviews keep you from exploring new case management opportunities. Companies like Pathway Medical Staffing help nurse case managers find jobs that match their experience and career goals and help job seekers write their resumes and prepare for interviewing.

If your new year resolutions are like most nurse case managers and non-clinical nursing professionals, get started with your job search today!  Don’t let 2010 go by with an unfulfilled resolution to give your nursing career a boost.

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Since 1998 Pathway Medical Staffing has placed hundreds of  nurse case managers and non-clinical nurses in great jobs at leading healthcare organizations.

Sources:

1. Monster.com and The Human Capital Institute.  “The Great Recession From the Worker Perspective.”  August 2009.
2. Pathway Medical Staffing.  “2010 Nurse Case Manager Career Resolutions.” January 2010.  Survey of 147 nurse case managers and non-clinical nurse managers regarding 2010 New Year resolutions for their nursing career. Survey conducted in December 2009.
3. Wall Street Journal. “Landing a Job in the Future Takes a Two-Track Mind. December 28, 2009.

According to a recent study from Monster.com and The Human Capital Institute, employers are out of touch with employee attitudes toward their jobs in light of the current recession.  The report notes that while only 20% of employers think that workers are looking for jobs elsewhere, the reality is that 79% of workers reported that they are aggressively pursuing jobs outside their current employer (1).

Pathway Medical Staffing, a nurse case management and non-clinical nursing recruiting firm, conducted an informal survey to understand if these results held true for nurse case managers and other nurse management professionals. The results proved to be closely aligned with the broader employment study from Monster.com and the Human Capital Institute.

In December 2009 Pathway Medical Staffing surveyed 147 nurse case managers and non-clinical nursing professionals to understand their new year career resolutions for 2010. The study represented nurses from 23 states in the U.S. with the majority (65%) from the New York Metro Area.

The survey revealed that a whopping 57% of nurse case managers and non-clinical nursing professionals plan to look for a new job in 2010.  Not surprisingly, the majority (53%) of respondents indicated that they plan to look for a new job to increase their salary.

Click to Enlarge Graph

However, there are several other areas that are causing nurse case managers and non-clinical nurses to look for employment elsewhere.  Forty-one percent (41% ) of respondents indicated that they are looking for a job that is more challenging or makes better use of their experience and will help advance their career.   Closely following, were 31% of respondents that are seeking new opportunities to gain better benefits than they have with their current employer.

Other motivators for finding a new job included: being closer to home (19% of respondents), better schedule (14% respondents) and plans to semi-retire and search for project or temporary work (5% respondents) (2).

These results may be disturbing to employers that hire nurse case managers and related nursing professionals, especially in light of a December 28, 2009 report from the The Wall Street Journal.  The WSJ article noted that “Healthcare is expected to continue to see a surge in hiring with more than four million new openings estimated by 2018… [including] new specialties, particularly in case management (3).” There will be more opportunities for case managers and non-clinical nurses to pursue their career goals elsewhere if these career goals are not met by their current employer.

While these statistics may be troubling to healthcare employers, there is an opportunity for employers to address nurse manager concerns.  Employers should keep in mind the reasons that nurse case managers and non-clinical nurses are looking for new opportunities. While employers may have limited to no control over salary, there are other benefits that may help retain this specialized nursing talent.

One career resolution noted by 63% of nursing professionals was to further their education.  Offering to cover expenses for continuing education may be enough incentive to retain top talent.  Other possible benefits to retain talent may be offering flexible hours, more vacation or telecommuting options.  Succession planning may also help top talent to understand their opportunities for advancement within the organization so that they see the possibility to move to the next level in their career without leaving the organization.  Some employees may simply feel that they are not challenged enough or their skills are being underutilized.  Healthcare organizations should pay close attention to star performers looking for new challenges.  Significant effort should be made to retain these employees, or they will surely be lost to one of the many healthcare organization that can provide what they are seeking.

New Opportunities for Healthcare Employers to Attract Top Talent

There is also an upside for healthcare employers in light of the significant number of nursing professionals searching for new jobs.  Given that the majority of nurse case managers and related nursing professionals are seeking more rewarding opportunities, now is the time to attract this top talent.  However, it is often difficult to identify these specialized nurses.  Not only do healthcare organizations need to make sure that job opportunities are in front of nurse case managers and non-clinical nursing professionals looking for a change, the jobs must also be enticing enough to appeal to the nurses’ career goals. Attracting this top talent can be quite a challenge if your organization does not have the resources to make a dedicated effort to the process.

If your organization is like most, you are pressed for resources to attract top talent. This challenge is especially difficult in recruiting nurse case managers an non-clinical nurses given that they are usually hard to find.

Pathway Medical Staffing specializes in the recruitment of nurse case managers and non-clinical nurses with access to thousands of these professionals carrying out confidential job searches.  Since 1998 the company has successfully placed these hard-to-find candidates at hundreds of leading healthcare organizations by keeping job opportunities in front of candidates on a regular basis.

If you are looking to attract top talent start your search for nurse case managers and non-clinical nursing professionals today.

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Since 1998 Pathway Medical Staffing has placed hundreds of nurse case managers and non-clinical nurses in great jobs at leading healthcare organizations.

Sources:

1. Monster.com and The Human Capital Institute.  “The Great Recession From the Worker Perspective.”  August 2009.
2. Pathway Medical Staffing.  “2010 Nurse Case Manager Career Resolutions.” January 2010.  Survey of 147 nurse case managers and non-clinical nurse managers regarding 2010 New Year resolutions for their nursing career. Survey conducted in December 2009.
3. Wall Street Journal. “Landing a Job in the Future Takes a Two-Track Mind. December 28, 2009.

It’s the holiday season once again and we want to help you celebrate!  We’re offering you the chance to win a membership or renewal to your preferred professional organization. 

All you have to do is click on the membership that you’re interested in below, follow the instructions and you’ll be entered to win.  Hurry! The contest ends December, 16^th at midnight.

Wishing you every happiness this Holiday Season and prosperity in the New Year.

P.S.  Feel free to enter both if you wish! 

Happy Holidays from Pathway Medical.

Stories from Case Managers in Honor of Case Management Week…

I guess it started in the home care setting, when I worked in the  field as an infusion and home care nurse, moved on to a CHHA as a coordinator, and then moved to be a clinical manager and subsequently director of clinical services in a licensed and CHHA Agency.  

No matter what setting, home care is really case management with a different name. One focuses on assessing the patient and family needs, coordinating multiple services, and working collaboratively with clinical and insurance staff.   At my cancer care facility I came to Case Management when the program was restructured and started it’s Appeals and Denials program. Now, as the insurance Liaison Manager; I oversee the Patient Care advocacy program that advocates for patients who have complex needs that cannot be met within their local network; Manage the Inpatient Denials and Appeals program which maintains a reversal rate of 65-70%; and manage the administrative staff who are the liaisons with the insurance companies for the inpatient population.

Robin C –  RN, MPA
Insurance Liaison Manager