Case management evolution: from basic to advanced practice role.

Abstract

This article provides an overview of nursing case management as an advanced practice role from a theoretical and practice basis. Not all case managers will, or need to, perform case management duties at the advanced level. However, it has become abundantly clear over the past several years that nurse case managers are performing more complex duties that appear to match the competencies of other advanced practice roles. In this article, the authors will explore the issue in depth and demonstrate the differences between basic and advanced practice nursing case management on the basis of clinical practice, educational level, and research responsibilities for both the basic and advanced levels of case management practice; advanced practice competencies; and examples of advanced practice case management from current practice. Just as there are differences between basic and advanced professional and clinical nursing practice, there is a difference between basic and advanced levels of case management practice.