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Nurse case managers in rural hospitals.
1College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
The Journal of Nursing Administration
|February 25, 1999
Summary
Rural nurse case managers (NCMs) use advocacy, teaching, and clinical practice to improve outcomes. Their education and experience significantly impact their effectiveness in rural hospitals.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Nursing Practice
- Rural Health
Background:
- Rural hospitals face financial challenges within capitated care models.
- Nursing case management (NCM) is a strategy used by these hospitals.
- The specific roles and qualifications of rural NCMs are not well-understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the key practices of nurse case managers in rural hospitals.
- To explore the relationship between NCM qualifications and their practice.
- To provide insights into optimizing NCM roles for rural healthcare settings.
Main Methods:
- A national survey was conducted.
- Data were collected from 302 nurse case managers in rural hospitals.
- Statistical analysis was used to examine roles and qualifications.
Main Results:
- Individual advocacy, teaching, and direct clinical practice are central to rural NCM roles.
- The educational background and prior experience of NCMs demonstrably influence their practice.
- These factors are linked to achieving positive patient outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Nurse case management is crucial for rural hospital viability.
- NCMs' effectiveness is enhanced by specific skills and qualifications.
- Further research should focus on defining optimal NCM competencies for rural environments.