Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for LPN Care Manager

🎯 Role Definition

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Care Manager is a clinical professional responsible for coordinating and delivering patient‑centered care across the continuum, especially for medically complex or chronic conditions. This role combines hands‑on nursing expertise with care planning, patient education, care coordination, chronic disease management, clinical assessment, interdisciplinary communication and documentation in electronic health records (EHRs). The LPN Care Manager acts as a liaison between patients, families, physicians, specialists and healthcare teams to ensure continuity of quality care, improved health outcomes and adherence to care protocols.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)
Clinical Healthcare Coordinator
Chronic Care Coordinator

Advancement To:

Senior Care Manager
Chronic Care Program Lead
RN Care Manager / Case Manager

Lateral Moves:

Population Health Specialist
Patient Advocacy Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive assessments of patient health status, care needs, risk factors and social determinants of health to guide individualized care planning.
Develop, implement and regularly update patient‑centered care plans in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and primary care providers.
Perform telephonic or face‑to‑face patient outreach, monitoring, follow‑up and coaching to support adherence to treatment and self‑management strategies.
Review electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical data to identify gaps in care, treatment adherence issues and emerging health risks.
Educate patients and caregivers on disease processes, medication adherence, preventive care and community resources to improve understanding and outcomes.
Coordinate appointments, referrals, diagnostics, specialty care and follow‑ups to ensure continuity of care across care settings.
Facilitate transitions of care, including discharge planning, post‑acute follow‑up and risk escalation when clinical criteria are met.
Document patient interactions, assessments, care plans, progress updates and communications in CMS‑approved EHR systems.
Collaborate with physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and ancillary staff to implement clinical interventions and address patient needs.
Monitor patient progress toward care goals, evaluate effectiveness of interventions and modify care plans as needed.
Provide clinical guidance and direction to chronic care coordinators or support staff as needed.
Respond to clinical inquiries and escalate complex cases to supervising clinicians or medical directors.
Serve as a liaison between patients, families, healthcare teams and external agencies to ensure collaborative care and support.
Conduct chronic disease management activities, including monitoring vitals and symptoms for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and COPD.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives, program evaluations and clinical performance reporting.
Ensure compliance with state nursing practice acts, regulatory requirements and care management standards.
Provide outreach and support during care gaps to schedule preventive and follow‑up visits.
Assist with billing, coding and documentation compliance for care management activities.
Facilitate patient advocacy by addressing barriers to care, insurance challenges and access to community services.
Participate in team meetings, interdisciplinary care rounds and case conferences to share insights and coordinate care actions.

Secondary Functions

Support ad‑hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization’s data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Active, unrestricted LPN/LVN licensure in applicable state(s) and ability to maintain licensure.
Experience with electronic health records (EHRs), clinical documentation and healthcare software.
Clinical assessment and care planning skills to evaluate patient needs and risks.
Proficiency in identifying gaps in care and applying evidence‑based clinical criteria.
Ability to interpret medical terminology, diagnostic data and treatment plans.
Knowledge of chronic disease management principles and patient education techniques.
Competence in scheduling, referral coordination and multidisciplinary communication.
Strong documentation and compliance skills to ensure accurate records and regulatory adherence.
Familiarity with care coordination tools, referral platforms and clinical reporting systems.
Ability to assess social determinants of health and link patients to community resources.

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication with patients, families and care teams.
Strong organizational and time‑management skills to manage multiple cases effectively.
Empathy, patience and cultural sensitivity in patient interactions.
Critical thinking and clinical judgment to make sound decisions.
Problem‑solving and conflict resolution to address care challenges.
Attention to detail in clinical documentation and care plan execution.
Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Customer service orientation and professionalism.
Adaptability to changing clinical priorities and patient needs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Graduate of an accredited LPN/LVN nursing program.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree in nursing or certification in case management, chronic care management or related specialty.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Practical Nursing
Care Management
Population Health
Chronic Disease Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:
2‑5+ years of clinical nursing and care management experience in healthcare settings such as primary care, long‑term care or managed care.

Preferred:
Experience with value‑based care, chronic care management, pediatric or geriatric populations, and telehealth environments.