Why Travel Nurse Case Manager Jobs are in Demand
Many nurse specialties are in high demand due to factors like the nurse shortage, seasonality needs and increased staffing for electronic health records implementation. To respond, healthcare facilities nationwide are opening travel nursing jobs at an increasing rate.
There is one travel nurse specialty in particularly high demand: the travel nurse case manager. Because of shifting regulations in the healthcare landscape, with questions swirling about the fate of the Affordable Care Act, case management is one of the fastest growing areas in the nursing profession.
What is a travel nurse case manager?
According to the Case Management Society of America (CMSA), “Case management is a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet the client’s health and human service needs. It is characterized by advocacy, communication, and resource management and promotes quality and cost-effective interventions and outcomes.”
In other words, case management RNs use creative problem-solving to create individual and patient-centered care plans that utilize the resources available to them cost effectively, and without sacrificing quality care. The ultimate goal of a case manager is to facilitate a treatment plan to promote a patient’s health, enabling them to stay out of the hospital. Essentially, they navigate patients through the healthcare system, taking into consideration all factors, including dynamics outside a hospital’s four walls that might be affecting patient health.
While case management RNs do not provide direct hands-on care, they are a vital piece of the care contiuum, and in some ways they are the glue that holds the treatment plan together.
Requirements to land travel nurse case manager jobs
Education
Like all travel nurses, case managers need an active RN license; BSN is typically prefered, but ASN nurses can work in the field once they have comparable experience of 3-5 years clinical background.
Skills
• Oral and written communication skills must be strong.
• Problem solving and conflict resolution.
• Computer skills, organizational skills, and research.
Requirements vary by state and by facility, which often have their own requirements a candidate must meet to qualify for a position.
Discover case management positions across the country.
Certification
The Commission for Case Management Certification provides eligible nurse case managers with the opportunity to become board-certified by passing the Certified Case Manager (CCM®) exam. As with most certifications, the RN must maintain a minimum amount of continuing education annually in addition to those required by their state’s Board of Nursing.
Of all the travel nurse manager jobs, why case management?
• Know patients on a broader, more intimate scale. Evaluate patient obstacles to health beyond the clinical aspect, and help with resources they could benefit from.
• Battle burnout. Case management allows RNs to use a different skillset than bedside care specialties. Case management allows nurses to stay within their specialty, but do something different.
• Job security. They are an essential part of any care team, and demand to hire is high.
• Work in hospital, private practice, LTC, or many other settings
• Flexible hours. Many case managers enjoy weekends and holidays off (unless inpatient)
Like any other nurse specialty, case managers must practice self-care so they don’t become compassion fatigued.
Travel nurse case manager salary
Registered nurse case managers enjoy a relatively high salary compared to other RN specialties. Travel nurse case manager salary differs from location to location and other factors, but this skill-set is typically rewarded with a premium pay rate. Traveling nurse salary is typically higher as compared to staff nurse pay.
Here’s why travel nursing with Cirrus might be for you:
• High demand means higher pay for travel RN case management jobs.
• Housing and travel costs/arrangements can be covered by the agency.
• Flexible career option – travle nursing offers short term contracts so you can see the country and work when you want.
• Health benefits starting day one of your assignment – you’re covered!
• 24/7 support from the agency and your recruiter, with credentialing team to help you navigate through state licensure and certification requirements.
Want to know more about why travel nurse case manager is a specialty worth considering? Call us at 800-299-8132 or visit our job board to find your next assignment.