What does a nurse need to know and do to maintain an effective level of case management?

The nurse needs to have a working knowledge of the needs of the seriously mentally ill and their families and effective treatment modalities, including therapeutic use of self, networking and social systems, crisis intervention, pharmacology, physical and psychosocial assessment skills, psychosocial rehabilitation, collaborative skills, teaching skills, psychoeducation, management and leadership skills, research, group skills, psychopathology, relevant legislation, biological psychiatry, and community resources. The ANA Standards of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Practice (1982) provides a broad framework for the nurse case manager.