Nursing challenges in managed care

The emergence of managed care organizations offers many opportunities, challenges, and threats for nursing and nurses. The goal of these organizations (ensuring maximum value from resources used) is congruent with the basic philosophy of nursing, which focuses on the total needs of the patient, not just disease, and on maintaining the health of the individual to minimize the need for expensive health care services. Within the structure of managed care, however, there is also a need for strong professional advocacy to ensure that the needs of the members are adequately met as the organization strives to maintain costs. In meeting the needs of the organization and of the members, the nurse also plays an important role in managing the resources used in producing health care services.