Ways Curiosity Can Strengthen A Nurse Case Manager Career
I recently moderated a webinar for new nurses who wanted to pivot their careers into workers' compensation case management. We were discussing the competencies that nurse case managers need to bring to their jobs. One of the panelists said something that caught my...
Ways Case Managers Can Spread Kindness
I heard a story on NPR over the weekend about kindness. The reporter shared an experience that changed his life. One day, he was in the men's room at an airport, and a fellow traveler was washing his hands. When the traveler left, he said to the attendant standing in...
Do We Take HIPAA Too Far? Balancing the Intent of the Law
Recently, I received a call from a company that arranges specialist appointments for my husband and me with our primary care doctor. When I answered the phone, the caller identified herself and asked to speak to my husband. I said he was not home, but that I was his...
Starting the Year Off with a Goal to Be Prepared for Life Events
Happy New Year! I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season and that 2026 is off to a good start. I wanted to start the year with a reminder of the importance of preparing for the ‘what if’s. If I have learned anything from my cancer journey, it is that...
Looking Back on 2025: The Top Ten Blogs According to Your Comments!
Welcome Back! I hope you and your family had a Merry Christmas. I want to say a massive thank-you for reading my Blog, Nurse Advocate, and for your comments, accolades, and support over the years. 2025 is a milestone year, marking 10 years of writing this Blog. My...
The Gifts of Connections
Recently, I received a call from a longtime friend and nurse case manager colleague, who said she has been thinking about me and wanted to reach out to see how I have been. We had a nice chat, caught up, and promised to stay in touch. As I sat there after the call, I...
Case Managers as Leaders in Healthcare
I heard this quote recently, and it resonated with me in relation to my work as a case manager. Here it is: “One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency." This resonated with me, as anticipation and foresight are...
Breaking NEWS: The U.S. Department of Education has Officially Excluded Nursing in its Recently Revamped Definition of “Professional Degree”. What It Means for Nurses
For this week’s Case Management article, I planned to write about how nurses can use career ladders to plan the trajectory of their careers. But then I saw an email from the American Nurses Association stating the U.S. Department of Education has officially excluded...
Elevating Your Work as a Case Manager: The Fellowship Opportunity
Recently, I’ve noticed a surge of articles on leadership in nursing landing in my inbox. A common theme runs through them: case managers must recognize their value and actively promote it within their organizations/communities. As I reflect on today’s current...
The Cure For the Sick Care System We Call Healthcare – YOU
In 2025, U.S. healthcare spending is projected to reach $5.6 trillion, accounting for approximately 17.6% of the nation's GDP. There is no slowing this cost as we have a system that feeds sick care. To control spiraling healthcare costs, we as a country must...
Patients Are People – Get to Know Them To Improve Outcomes
As a nurse case manager, I take pride in being empathetic and work hard to care for my patients to the best of my ability. But looking back, I ask myself: Did I truly know my patients? Did I take the time to learn about them beyond their medical conditions? Did I ask...
Meet Your Patients Where They Are…. But Do Not Leave Them There
There is a saying that we meet our patients where they are. But as nurse case managers, we meet our patients where they are and work to help them find the resources they need to move forward. As part of the nurse case managers' assessment, we are charged with...
