If you like working with patients and want to help them get the best health care from a sometimes confusing medical system, you could have a career in managed care nursing. Carefully consider the amount of time and resources necessary to complete your training before you begin. You may want to start down the path toward this career by finding a qualified nursing education program. Managed care nurses need a bachelor's degree and a proper nursing license before being allowed to work in their state or region, and some people may be better qualified to enter managed care nursing after doing social work or working as a staff nurse in a hospital or clinic.
There are a large number of nursing schools and educational institutions that offer courses in managed care nursing, so take some time to check out the courses offered by each one. Start by searching online for schools or nursing programs that are properly accredited, specialize in managed nursing care and have a high National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rate. When reviewing qualified managed care nursing programs, look for specific courses that deal with healthcare administration and patient education. This type of training will likely be expensive and require many hours of attending classes, working clinicals, and studying every day. This schedule may not allow you the time to work another job, spend a lot of time with family, or commute to and from classes over a long distance each day.
Working in the highly specialized area of managed care nursing will likely require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or possibly a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Some managed care nurses may have a less common nursing diploma that is offered through some hospitals. Typically, all nurses must pass an examination and obtain a license from the proper authorities to practice nursing in their state, region, or district. In the United States, managed care nurses are board certified through the American Board of Managed Care Nursing (ABMCM). There are also a number of other professional organizations that offer various training and certifications.
Managed care nurses ensure the overall quality of care provided for patients, so they need to know a lot about services, treatments, and types of care available to their patients. Many nurses who have prior experience working in a clinic or hospital setting have this valuable experience and knowledge. Some who serve in the managed care nursing field started out as social workers. These licensed nurses have gained valuable experience, serving as advocates for their patients who may be covered by some type of government or social service program. Those in managed care nursing will likely be dealing with patients who rely on these programs to pay for their health care services.
