The responsibilities of medical workers are not limited only to providing the most effective and optimal care and treatment. According to Tomajan and Hatmaker (2019), advocacy and social activism are also aspects of the healthcare provider profession. Nurses and physicians can bring about the necessary changes in the healthcare institution by applying these practices (Tomajan & Hatmaker, 2019). It is also worth noting that advocacy and social activism are essential in terms of protecting the rights of health workers, patients, local communities, and the whole society.
Case management has established itself as an efficient nursing care delivery model in many healthcare departments, one of which is oncology, the most challenging one. According to Joo and Liu (2018), “case management effectively improved patients’ quality of life and significantly reduced hospital readmission rates” (p. 968). However, the claim that nurse-led case management contributes to cost reduction, especially in cancer care, requires detailed study since the existing knowledge on this topic is mixed (Joo & Liu, 2018). New and clear data will enable case managers and nursing leaders to improve many case management practices and strategies.
The introduction of case management into nursing and the subsequent expansion of the roles and responsibilities of nurse managers had a positive effect on patients but negatively impacted nurse leaders and the profession. This approach to care delivery has been proven to contribute to “feelings of being overwhelmed, burnout, and increased turnover in nurse managers” (Gilbert et al., 2017, p. 700). As a result, many nursing managers left the profession due to excessive workload (Gilbert et al., 2017). Case management requires revision and adaptation to nurse managers’ abilities, capabilities, needs, and demands.
References
Gilbert, J. H., Von Ah, D., & Broome, M. E. (2017). Organizational intellectual capital and the role of the nurse manager: A proposed conceptual model. Nursing Outlook, 65(6), 697-710. Web.
Joo, J. Y., & Liu, M. F. (2019). Effectiveness of nurse-led case management in cancer care: Systematic review. Clinical Nursing Research, 28(8), 968-991. Web.
Tomajan, K., & Hatmaker, D. D. (2019). Advocating for nurses and for health. In R. M. Patton, M. L. Zalon & R. Ludwick (Eds.), Nurses making policy: From bedside to boardroom (2nd ed., pp. 37-71). Springer Publishing Company.