Leading Nurses at BlueCross
May 19, 2022
By Juanita Graham, registered nurse (RN), care management manager
I began my nursing career in 1985 working on a busy medical-surgical unit in a local hospital. I gained valuable clinical experience working in several areas of nursing, including the emergency department (ED), orthopedics, home health and hospice. My career path changed when I came to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina in 1997.
A strong clinical foundation is important to the work my team does every day at BlueCross. I lead three teams. Two include registered nurse care managers and social workers who provide case management services. Our care managers are the ones who help members navigate very challenging situations through their health care journeys, which may include recent hospitalizations or new diagnoses. These care managers work with members from their hospital stays until they are back at home and stable. They are advocates and educators.
We know receiving diagnoses can be difficult for members. Many people don’t know what the next step for care might be or what their insurance benefits are. This is where our care managers can step in and make sure the member gets the particular care, service or equipment he or she needs.
Juanita Graham, RN, care management manager
Our chronic condition care team is the other group I manage. This is a group of nurses and respiratory therapists who reach out to members with chronic health conditions. This outreach educates members and teaches them how to work with their doctors’ treatment plans to improve their health. These nurses and therapists work with members to help them reach their personal health goals.
We work as a team, and each of us brings a variety of skills from our professional backgrounds to the table. It is similar to working at the bedside or in the emergency room setting. We work together to accomplish the same goal. That same collaborative teamwork approach is what I draw on in my role as a leader at BlueCross.
In the clinical setting, you develop the skills of observation and attentive listening, even when needs or barriers are unspoken. Those skills are even more valuable in this setting and in this role as a leader.
When I came to BlueCross in 1997, I worked in utilization management, then case management and health coaching roles. Those positions prepared me to manage the areas I manage today. I worked with incredible leaders. BlueCross has great examples of leadership, and those in leadership were always there to assist me.
The decision to become a nurse has been a good one. Working for BlueCross has only enhanced my career and the good I can do for others.
When people think about nursing, they often think about being face-to-face with patients, but our nurses provide care telephonically and virtually via an app or computer. The work they do makes a difference in the lives of our members in a meaningful way.
The nurses who work at BlueCross give of their time and skill to help our members, providing services compassionately. They genuinely care about the people we serve. I see this reflected each day, and I appreciate leading a team like this.
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