Nurse Case Managers, the Quarterbacks of Care

Photo By 1st Lt. Antonia Elena Pearse | U.S. Army Civilian Nurse Case Manager April Gibson, Warrior Transition Battalion, Bethesda, MD, takes a break from her busy work day to pose for a picture during National Nurses Appreciation Week, May 6-12, 2015. (U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Antonia E. Pearse, Warrior Transition Battalion, Bethesda, Md.)  

BETHESDA, MD, UNITED STATES

05.11.2015

Story by 1st Lt. Antonia Elena Pearse 

U.S. Army Medical Readiness Command, East

BETHESDA, Md. – Just as a quarterback leads play for his team, a nurse case manager (NCM) plays a central role in the care and rehabilitation of wounded, ill or injured Soldiers at warrior transition units all over the country. At the Warrior Transition Battalion at Bethesda, Maryland, Warrior Transition Units at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and the Fort Meade, Maryland, there are almost 60 nurse case managers caring for Soldiers, including 31 military nurses, both active duty and Reserve/National Guard, and 28 civilians. In honor of National Nurses Appreciation Week, May 6-12, 2015, the WTB NCMs celebrated with a luncheon and cake cutting.

As quarterbacks in providing health care, the NCM is part of the Triad of Care, whom works with the primary care manager and the squad leader/platoon sergeant, making appointments and acting as a go-between for the Soldiers and other specialty care providers.

As explained, “The NCMs are very supportive and work on each case on a daily basis, said Staff Sgt. Mario Derogatis, a squad leader at the Bethesda Warrior Transition Battalion. Since squad leaders don’t deal with the medical side, the nurse case managers give us an idea of what to expect and help us to understand what the Soldiers in our platoon are going through.”

NCMs coordinate the patient’s appointments, help resolve scheduling difficulties and facilitate communication between the medical and the military parts of the care triad.

Nurse Case Manager Capt. Jocelyn Evobauman, Warrior Transition Battalion, Bethesda, described how despite the challenges, being a nurse case manager can be a satisfying job.

“I joined the military as a nurse because I wanted to serve and help people and take care of their health. I enjoy taking care of Soldiers and seeing them progress through their medical boards towards transitioning to becoming a civilian.”

“It has been an honor to help those who keep us safe. It makes sense to take care of people who give so much to take care of us. It has been an honor to be given the responsibility to take care of service members. I enjoy what I do,” agreed Nurse Case Manager April Gibson, Warrior Transition Battalion, Bethesda.

Nurse Case Manager Capt. Sharon Pickett, Warrior Transition Battalion, Bethesda, explained that in addition to caring for the Soldiers, NCMs work with families of Soldiers to ease the transition to health, whether a return to duty, or to medically retire and rejoin civilian life. “We coordinate between wounded, ill or injured Soldiers and their providers, as well making sure that their families are taken care of as well,” Pickett said.

Soldiers who have been severely wounded, injured or become ill in a combat zone, and are flown from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) Germany, can bring the greatest challenges and the greatest rewards. “Seeing the severely wounded, ill or injured flown in from LRMC -- some arrive on stretchers -- go through the healing process with their families, and either return to duty or medically retire. When they are able to walk out on their own, the feeling is indescribable,” said Pickett.

• Date Taken: 05.11.2015
• Date Posted: 05.11.2015 16:28
• Story ID: 162933
• Location: BETHESDA, MD, US
• Hometown: BENIN CITY, NG
• Hometown: BROOKLYN, NY, US
• Hometown: MORENO VALLEY, CA, US
• Hometown: ST. JOSEPH, MO, US
• Hometown: WASHINGTON, DC, US