Certification

Definitions and Scope of Practice

Rehabilitation nursing is a specialty practice area within the scope of professional nursing. It involves the diagnosis and treatment of human responses of individuals and groups to actual or potential health problems resulting from altered functional ability and altered lifestyle.

The goal of rehabilitation nursing is to assist individuals with disabilities and chronic illness in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal health. The rehabilitation nurse is skilled at treating alterations in functional ability and lifestyle resulting from injury, disability, and chronic illness.

Rehabilitation nurses provide comfort, therapy and education, promote health-conducive adjustments, support adaptive capabilities, and promote achievable independence. Rehabilitation nurses provide holistic, comprehensive, and compassionate end-of-life care, including promotion of comfort and relief of pain.

Rehabilitation nursing practice occurs in many settings and involves a variety of roles.

 

    Roles
    Staff Nurse
    Nurse Manager
    Head Nurse
    Nurse Administrator
    In-service Instructor
    Home Health Nurse
    Academic Instructor
    Clinical Nurse Specialist
    Nurse Clinician
    Supervisor
    Researcher
    Community Nurse
    Case Manager
    Nurse Liaison
    Insurance Nurse
    Nurse Practitioner
    Consultant


    Settings

    General hospital with or without rehabilitation unit
    Long term care facility
    Educational institution
    Clinic
    Insurance company
    Private company/private office
    Rehabilitation facility
    Sub-acute unit
    Community agency/home health agency
    Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center