What is a nurse case manager and how to become one

Q: Do case managers make more than nurses?

No, case managers do not make more than nurses. A standard case manager earns around $40,000 a year compared to a registered nurse who makes around $75,000 a year. A case manager, while often can be a nurse, may also be a social worker. A nurse case manager earns a similar wage to a registered nurse (average $75,000 a year).

Q: How do I become a case manager with no experience?

To become a case manager, you typically need an advanced college degree, hours of training, and state licensure. While some employers will hire candidates with a bachelor's degree, most prefer to hire individuals with a master's degree in social work. Nurses pursuing a position in case management will obtain a nursing degree and then secure a certificate in case management.

Q: How do I become a certified nurse case manager?

To become a certified nurse case manager, you generally need postsecondary education and relevant work experience. Employers typically require at least an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in nursing. You may even consider a master's degree in either nursing, health administration, or health management.

Q: How much do nurse case managers make an hour?

Nurse case managers make about $35.54 an hour. Yearly, they can make an average salary of $73,000, but as most jobs go, factors like location and experience can determine your exact salary.

Q: How to become a nurse case manager with no experience

To become a nurse case manager with no experience, you must attend nursing school and become a registered nurse. Here are the steps you can take to become a nurse case manager without experience:

Q: Is RN case manager a good career?

Yes, being an RN case manager is a good career. Many RN case managers experience immense career satisfaction from helping patients navigate the sometimes overwhelming healthcare system. A registered nurse (RN) case manager also makes around $80,000 a year.

Q: What is the role of the nursing case manager?

The role of the nursing case manager is to ensure the best possible care for patients. They do this by working with other medical professionals and with the patients and their family members to identify their needs and create effective treatment plans.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Earlene Masi

A nurse case manager oversees the care of patients with complex medical needs. They work with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers to ensure that patients receive appropriate care. Nurse case managers assess medical needs, develop care plans, coordinate services, monitor progress, and provide emotional support to patients and their families. They also collaborate with insurance companies to ensure that patients receive the necessary coverage. Nurse case managers are critical in improving patient outcomes.

What general advice would you give to a Nurse Case Manager?

Earlene Masi

Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Anderson University

Always be true to yourself. In any situation, never be afraid to ask for help. As you enter the workforce, remember communication is critical, always be a team player, and always be open to change. Remember to try and find a job that you enjoy, and that gives you a sense of fulfillment.

ScoreNurse Case ManagerUS Average

Salary

5.3

Avg. Salary $68,461

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

10.0

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 8.89%

Black or African American 11.73%

Hispanic or Latino 9.11%

Unknown 4.27%

White 65.56%

Gender

female 90.35%

male 9.65%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress Level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.1

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.8

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Nurse Case Manager?

Pros

Ability to advocate for patients
Opportunity to work in a variety of settings
Job security and growth potential
Competitive salary and benefits
Professional development opportunities

Cons

Emotional toll of working with sick or injured patients
Ongoing changes in healthcare policies and regulations
Difficulty in balancing patient needs with insurance limitations
Constant need to multitask and prioritize tasks
Exposure to infectious diseases and other workplace hazards

Key steps to become a nurse case manager

Explore nurse case manager education requirements

Most common nurse case manager degrees

Bachelor's

45.9 %

Associate

36.3 %

Master's

8.6 %

Start to develop specific nurse case manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Care Management	25.25%
Discharge Planning	16.98%
Patients	10.61%
Home Health	7.73%
Rehabilitation	3.20%

Complete relevant nurse case manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New nurse case managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a nurse case manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nurse case manager resumes.

Gain additional nurse case manager certifications

Nurse case manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific nurse case manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for nurse case managers include Certified Case Manager (ACM) and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research nurse case manager duties and responsibilities

Develop and manage plan of care for symptom management for patients/families in home, ALF, and SNF arena.
Maintain communication with commercial insurance payers, manage Medicare and Medicaid sources and conduct daily clinical updates to insurance companies.
Coordinate surgery schedules with doctor, hospital, medical equipment representative and patients.
General assessment and care/case management of Medicare patients including wind care, diabetes, cardiac complications, respiratory treatments.

Prepare your nurse case manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your nurse case manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a nurse case manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Nurse Case Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Nurse Case Manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Nurse Case Manager resume.

Apply for nurse case manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a nurse case manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do nurse case managers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Nurse Case Manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2022

Pros

Helping others

Cons

Getting approval and watching families go through their proceed with difficulties

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021

Cons

Staffing ratios, unfairness, constant expectations. Healthcare is a business but doesn’t treat nurses like business employees

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

helping people and saving lives

Cons

the pay is not good not enough for the lifestyle I would like to live

Nurse Case Manager FAQs

What is a nurse case manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Nurse Case Manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a Nurse Case Manager?

Nurse Case Manager career paths

Key steps to become a nurse case manager

Explore nurse case manager education requirements

Most common nurse case manager degrees

Start to develop specific nurse case manager skills

Complete relevant nurse case manager training and internships

Gain additional nurse case manager certifications

Research nurse case manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your nurse case manager resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Nurse Case Manager Resume templates

Apply for nurse case manager jobs

How Did You Land Your First Nurse Case Manager Job

Average nurse case manager salary

How do nurse case managers rate their job?

Nurse Case Manager reviews

Nurse Case Manager FAQs

Do case managers make more than nurses?

How do I become a case manager with no experience?

How do I become a certified nurse case manager?

How much do nurse case managers make an hour?

How to become a nurse case manager with no experience

Is RN case manager a good career?

What is the role of the nursing case manager?

Search for nurse case manager jobs