What Is A Rehabilitation Nurse?
Table of Contents
Rehabilitation nurses aid patients with long-term physical disabilities or chronic illnesses in overcoming personal limits caused by these disabilities. These nurses collaborate with patients and families to develop a recovery plan that is unique to them. Additionally, rehabilitation nurses assist patients in developing both long and short-term goals. As a rehabilitation nurse, your primary goal is to assist your patients in regaining their health and independence to the maximum extent possible. Numerous rehabilitation nurses work on an ongoing basis with patients.
Pursuing a Career as a Rehabilitation Nurse
Apart from the medical aspect, rehabilitation nurses must be sympathetic and encouraging, as the healing process can be arduous and unpleasant for many patients. They must gently guide their patients to strive beyond their perceived limitations in order to accomplish goals. A optimistic outlook and an abundance of patience are essential characteristics to possess for this position. Being a rehabilitation nurse may be quite fulfilling, and it is well suited for those with a strong desire to serve others and make a positive difference in people’s lives.
What Educational Requirements Are Required for Rehabilitation Nurses?
Earning a nursing degree, whether a BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) or an ADN (Associates of Science in Nursing), is the first step toward a career as a rehabilitation nurse. Following completion of a nursing degree, you may apply to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing examination. After passing this exam, you will be entitled to apply for a registered nursing license through your state’s nursing board. Additionally, continuing education courses are offered that educate RNs to fundamental concepts of rehabilitative nursing.
Advanced practice nurses typically hold a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) focused on their job as nurse practitioners (NPs) or clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). At the moment, there are no master’s degrees in advanced practice rehabilitation nursing.
However, registered nurses (RNs) may pursue post-graduate degrees such as the following:
- Executive Masters in Rehabilitation Administration Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science
- In Rehabilitation Sciences, a Master of Health Science (MHS) degree is available.
Is it necessary to obtain any certifications or credentials?
Earning the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN®) credential can help rehabilitation nurses boost their work opportunities and income. This distinction requires completing an examination and having two years of rehabilitative nursing experience. Rehabilitation nurses can get their CRRN credential through the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board (RNCB), a self-contained auxiliary of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. To appear for the exam, applicants must possess an unrestricted RN license and have completed one to two years of practice as an RN in rehabilitation nursing within the five years preceding application.
What Types of Jobs Do Rehabilitation Nurses Have?
Rehabilitation nurses work in a range of contexts, including the following:
- Centers for outpatient rehabilitation
- Clinics and hospitals
- Agencies providing long-term care
- Patients’ residences
- Agencies that provide home care
- Facilities for assisted living
Additionally, rehabilitation nurses may be employed by educational institutions or insurance firms.
What Is the Role of a Rehabilitation Nurse?
Rehabilitation nursing’s objective is to assist patients with disabilities or chronic illnesses in achieving and maintaining maximal function. The rehabilitation staff nurse aids clients in adjusting to a new way of life and provides a therapeutic atmosphere for clients and their families. They develop and administer self-care treatment procedures based on scientific nursing theory that enhance physical, psychological, and spiritual wellness. The rehabilitation staff nurse is responsible for inpatient and outpatient care in a variety of acute and subacute rehabilitation facilities.
What Are the Resident Nurse’s Duties and Responsibilities?
Rehabilitation nursing’s major goal is to aid patients in regaining independence and functionality following an injury, disability, or disease. A rehabilitation nurse is often responsible for the following:
- Educates and supports people in living with and managing chronic illnesses and injuries effectively.
- Assists patients in resuming normal lives following a life-threatening sickness or injury.
- By supporting clients’ independence and continued goal achievement, this program prepares clients and their loved ones for future self-management and decision-making duties.
- Teach clients and their families particular rehabilitation nursing practices to assist them in developing the self-care skills essential to progress toward full rehabilitation.
- Coordinates nursing activities in coordination with other members of the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team in order to ensure that overall goals are met.
- Serves as a resource for educational and instructional purposes, as well as a role model for nursing staff, patients, and other clinical personnel.
- Provides direct nursing care to clients by employing the nursing process.
- Disseminates essential information on the illness processes that underpin impairments.
Salary and Employment for Rehabilitation Nurses
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country has well over 2 million rehabilitation nursing and registered nursing positions. By 2020, this figure is expected to increase by 19 percent—a rate that is quicker than the average. At the very least, the demand for rehabilitation nurses should be equivalent to this rate. Rehabilitation nurses typically earn between $32.37 and $38.32 per hour, or around $65,470 per year.
