By Elaine Bruner, MSN, RN, CMGT-BC, FCM
Did you catch “Olympic Fever” in February? Every four years, Americans learn the rules of curling and biathlon, and are enthralled by ski jumping and skeleton. As a former trauma nurse, these last two make me cringe. I admit that figure skating has had my attention since Peggy Fleming’s 1968 gold medal performance. As I’m watching the team skating events, one of the skaters is getting last-minute advice from a coach who says,” Don’t skate out of your pants.” Hmmmm…is the coach saying don’t push yourself? Or that the skater knew their program perfectly and to rely on muscle memory? I continued to ponder this statement and realized there was a correlation to professional case management. Each of us is comfortable with our knowledge, skills, and abilities. We are aware of our exceptional qualities and areas of opportunity. Searching for additional knowledge and lifelong learning never stops in case management.
What are the limits in case management practice? We consistently discuss barriers to transition planning, whether these are social drivers of health or the American health care system. Despite barriers or limitations, case managers get the job done. In pushing your limits, you have to be confident in your abilities, demonstrate flawless execution (like figure skating), and be aware of flaws or gaps in your knowledge. In addition to the Olympic skating coach’s comment, the University of Virginia Compassionate Care Initiative (CCI) Facebook post was sent out on cultivating humility this week. Case managers need to embrace humility, especially when we aren’t at our best. We need permission to make mistakes and be human. Here are a few pointers from the CCI post:
- Recognize your limits as facts, not flaws.
- Don’t treat your limitations as a problem to fix.
- Create space for compassion, clarity, and growth.
- Self-awareness without self-judgement.
I gave this more thought and realized that this parallels my view of failure and how to grow from failure to flourish in many ways. Awareness of our abilities and limits builds humility and protects our well-being. Consider that we have to own the good and what needs work. How can case managers create space for compassion, clarity, and growth? According to CCI, we can begin to shift our mindset through this reflection practice:
- Think of something you’re good at-own a strength without minimizing it.
- Think of something you’re still learning-name a growth area with kindness.
- Think of something you’re not meant to carry alone- identify a responsibility, burden, or worry that deserves shared support.
Life is messy, and being a case manager means no “easy button.” Could you integrate the reflection practice for yourself and/or your team? Offering focus and direction to individuals and groups, while acknowledging strengths, growth areas, and support needs, this practice contributes to strong, resilient case managers. Imagine the possibilities for you and your organization.
Own your abilities with confidence. Expand your growth areas. Ask for help. And don’t skate out of your pants!
References
University of Virginia (2026). Compassionate Care Initiative, February 12.
Bio: Elaine is an experienced nurse, case manager and educator. She completed her undergraduate studies with the State University of New York at Platttsburgh, followed by her graduate work with the University of Virginia. Prior to entering case management practice, Elaine worked in diverse settings including oncology, nutrition support, home health, and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Case management offered Elaine opportunities to join transdisciplinary teams in cardiology, critical care, and ambulatory care. Since 2008, she has been associated with American Nurses Credentialing Commission, contributing to the Nursing Case Management (NCM) certification review products. She co-authored the 4th edition of the NCM Review and Resource Manual, with Peggy Leonard, and was the faculty for live workshops and webinar presentations. Elaine embraces her educator role, authoring manuscripts in CMSAToday, offering continuing education presentations, and coaching case managers to certification success. Elaine's current role, with US Navy, offers daily challenges, keeps her skills sharp and a smooth transition to retirement.
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