Nurse case manager role attributes: fifteen years of evidence-based literature

Nurse case management has been shown to provide quality patient care. Transition into the nurse case manager (NCM) role has presented administrators with a strategy to retain highly experienced registered nurses. An evidence-based literature review was pursued to examine provider and patient satisfaction associated with NCMs in acute and community care practice delivery settings. Qualitative and quantitative empirical findings were gathered to determine consistent role attributes. Autonomy was described as high by NCMs with interdisciplinary collaboration seen as an important practice activity. Mixed results were uncovered in nurse case management's effect upon staff nurse practice as well as patient and provider satisfaction. From the findings generated, recommendations were developed to improve the practice and expectations of the NCM role.