The transition experience for registered nurses new to case management in the community

Case management is increasingly being used within today‟s healthcare system in an effort to reduce healthcare costs while meeting the complex needs of populations within the community. Registered nurses (RNs) are often recruited for the role of case managers in the community because of their specific skill set and ability to navigate the healthcare system. There is a vast amount of literature related to the client and system benefits of case management, the roles and responsibilities of RN case managers, and job satisfaction among RN case managers. However, there is a literature gap noted in relation to the transition experience for RNs new to case management in the community setting. This research study used grounded theory methodology, guided by Glaser and Strauss (1967) to explore the process of RNs transitioning to case management in the community setting. Eleven RNs new to case management in the community were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out using the constant comparative method. Three stages of adjusting to case management in the community were identified: slugging it out, seeing the job as it is, and finding the way. By gaining an understanding of this transition experience, recommendations for nursing practice and administration, education, and research that are based on the evidence from this study can be implemented to improve the transition experience for RNs new to case management in the community setting