How can I get a case manager job with 3 years nursing acute experience?

Apply with all of the health insurance companies, such as United Health Group (UHC, Optum), Humana, Aetna, BCBS, etc.
They have a wide range of jobs for nurses, including case management, inpatient case management, prior authorization, legal, retrospective review, specialty case management such as oncology or CHF or CKD or diabetes, etc. (I do retrospective review, and I really like it).
Go to their jobs websites and load your info. They have all kinds of search parameters.
Don’t worry about whether you meet every single job criteria, trust me they will train you on what you don’t know. Get your foot in the door, knowing that you can learn more about other opportunities within the company once you are in… if you have good performance, you can look into transferring to another department in 6-12 months.
If you have ever coordinated with getting a patient discharged, you have case management experience.
Also, many of the big health care hospital systems have their case management (utilization review and discharge planning nurses) work from home now that records are electronic. Create a job application profile on each of their websites even if they don’t have open positions; identify that you want case management or UR. They might not have a position now, but they will. Update your profile on those sites every month or so.
Also, check out the Commission for Case Management Certification website ccmcertification.org
That website can help guide you to what you need to do to become a Certified Case Manager (worth it).
You might also want to look into becoming a Certified Nurse Life Car Planner, and/or Medicare Set-aside Certified Consultant (recommend FIG Education… Shelene Giles is amazing). It’s expensive, but considering most Certified Nurse Life Care Planners make ~$200/hr, and an average life care plan takes 40 hours, it’s worth it.
Beside health insurance companies l there are also the insurance companies that manage workers compensation claims. It can be a challenge, but you can get excellent experience. Most of those nurses are CCMs, so you can easily meet the CCM qualifications of hours working with a CCM mentor.

I would like to add this little bit. Start reading about case management. A Case Manager has a much bigger role in the financial stability of any organization. For the hospital it’s getting denial of payment. That cost the hospital time, money & manpower. You are like the gate keeper.

Yes you can. Apply to managed care either in your area or if you are in a compact state. Match up your resume with the skills they are looking for. You have then. Discharge planning is a plus. I prefer case management. You will talk daily with your members.

Home Health and Hospice always need case managers. You can start there.

If you are in the Atlanta area I know Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is actively hiring for Nurse Case Manager positions.

Depends upon the requirements of your hospital. I advise people to try and get a prn position in Case Management if possible and then work your way into further hours

I worked in a number of positions over several years. My best experience as a case manager came about as a result of working for a home health agency. A home health agency provides many opportunities to learn the skills you need.

Certification is a good beginning because it will give you the education you need to understand your role plus show that you are prepared. But you may also have requirements for a certain number of hours in the field to qualify for testing.

Getting to know case managers in your organization, asking to shadow and getting familiar with the department can also get your foot in the door. Sometimes you will be the first to know about a coming posting.

A: What type of Acute Care experience do you have? My home health system will not consider anyone without at least 10 years of clinical/bedside experience. There is SO MUCH we are responsible for in Acute Care CM! The ACMA website has opportunities for CEUs, local/State/National meeting opportunities, and many CM job postings. Great networking opportunities. Some organizations are requiring an MSN in Case Management in lieu of 10 yrs experience.

I'm assuming you want to work in the Hospital, because Case Manager in a Nursing Home is in high demand. Also Director of Nursing jobs and Assistant Director of Nursing. Very good pay. Its a salary job ,1st shift and Monday-Friday. Get experience there and then transition.....

In my hospital prior CM experience isn't required, but I know that's not true for all. Insurance companies generally hire without CM experience and then work you to the bone. I would pick up a job there and then transition into a hospital CM setting.

Check with area hospitals