The development of the Unit-Based Care Manager grew out of the desire to leverage the new role of the Clinical Nurse LeaderSM in an acute care setting. Specific drivers include:
- Increasing complexity of patient care needs and technologies
- Increasing concerns about patient safety
- Desire to create a compelling career ladder for the nursing profession
The VA HealthCare System made a strong commitment to the development of the Clinical Nurse LeaderSM role. The Chief Nurse of the VA system selected the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) to pilot the initial introduction of the CNLSM role.
TVHS partnered with Vanderbilt University in the education and clinical implementation of CNLSM preparation. TVHS developed the role of Unit-Based Care Manager for the introduction of CNLsSM to the hospital, and the Unit-Based Care Manager role was implemented in 2004. TVHS initially hired nine CNLsSM, some of whom had been serving as case managers, to serve as Unit-Based Care Managers.
