Nurse case manager roles: implications for practice and education

Clients with highly complex or extended term health care needs are a major focus in cost containment. Case management is proposed as the approach of choice for these clients. Qualitative fieldwork and survey methods were used to identify role behaviors, attendant roles, and sources of learning of nurses practicing in the Broker Model of Case Management. Of the 16 roles identified, 9 have received little or no mention in the nursing literature. The source of learning for the majority of roles was on the job. Implications for nursing education and recommendations for future research are included.