Implementation of the Nurse Care Manager in Integrated Care: A Systematic Report

Introduction: The collaborative care model (CCM) is an effective model for improving depression symptoms in patients in a primary care (PC) setting. An essential role in this model is the care manager (CM), and nurses have been effective in this role. However, there remains a question of how to best design, train, and implement this nurse CM role in PC. Objectives: The purpose of this review is to provide readers with a critical description of what processes for training and implementation of a collaborative nurse CM role have been be successful in the literature, specifically as it pertains to supporting patients with depression and chronic medical illnesses in an integrated PC setting. Methods: A literature review of PubMed, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Scopus, and the Cochrane Collaborative was conducted in October 2018. Discussion: Successful nurse CM interventions have included regular patient follow-up, symptom check-in, treatment monitoring, goal setting, and education. Psychological support techniques such as problem solving therapy, behavioral activation, and motivational interviewing have been useful in supporting patient care-plan engagement and goal achievement. Nurse CM training should support the successful implementation of the designed role. Conclusion: Nurse CMs have an opportunity to significantly impact depressive outcomes of patients with depression and long-term health conditions. Further research is needed to explore the potential that this nursing role has, as well as how to best operationalize this role