Insider debate Part 2
Why nurses make the best case managers
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With the multitude of care settings and providers, COPD care often feels disjointed. Case managers are invaluable for making care more seamless and preempting COPD readmissions by facilitating continuity across settings and advocating for the patient at every step. See why every patient needs a case manager here. But the question is: Who make the best case managers — respiratory therapists or nurses? Watch Part 2 of our debate below, featuring respiratory nurse Chikita Mann, and be sure to check out Part 1: “Why RTs make the best case managers” before deciding where you stand.
The reasons why I truly feel that nurses are better, as a COPD case manager, is because we are equipped to look at the holistic approach to the patient. Not just the disease of COPD but also to look at all the other factors that would hinder them getting better. The psychosocial, the emotional part of it. The other diseases that are a part of COPD, we are able to look at that and be able to make sure they're getting that treatment, that will help them be better overall not just look at COPD. We are able to look at medications. The COPD patient is usually on at least four to five medications. So we're able to provide medication reconciliation, making sure that these medications are not interacting negatively with each other. Because guess what? Negative interaction can earn them a hospital visit, and that could've been avoided if we could've looked at the patient, our patient, and been able to tackle those issues then. We also look at psychosocial. How was the mental status of the patient, how was the self-esteem? Can we help them to see themselves still as a whole person even though they have COPD? We take into consideration the assessment of the patient, identification of the factors that are exacerbating, perhaps, the condition of the COPD. We also look at the family dynamics. We also are able to look at, okay, you have this going on with COPD, however, you also have this medical condition going on. Those two things could be interacting negatively with each other and we're able to say, okay, let's get this done so that we can make you better with this also.
Contributor
Chikita Mann
MSN, RN, CCM Disability RN
Case Manager Supervisor Genex Services, LLC for the State of Georgia
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