Case management and nurses

Case management, along with calls for review of the position of nurses in healthcare provision, has become increasingly familiar as a feature of the restructuring of health services. There has been considerable confusion about the meaning of case management. Nurses in New Zealand have looked to nurses' experience and research in the United States where the term originated and have undertaken our own research to construct models for our system. This paper provides a sketch of case management developments in New Zealand with reference to American nurses' endeavours. It is an edited version of the discussion paper: "Case Management and Nurses" prepared for the College of Nurses Aotearoa in 1995-1996. It is intended to provide a contemporary reference to prompt discussion of the concept and more extensive analysis and critique of nursing's contribution within the changing health sector. Case management is conceptualised as a feature of health service delivery at the interface between funds management and professional practice. While nurses have played a major part in service delivery initiatives and research, this interface has been addressed only superficially.