Certification | Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation | Rehabilitation Nursing     


     

Membership

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of benefits do I receive as an ARN member?
ARN members include more than 5,500 professional nurses who together form a community singularly devoted to advancing and promoting rehabilitation nursing. The wealth of knowledge and information our community of nurses shares is extensive. ARN provides you with information, research, and resources for the latest treatment options and best practices when caring for your patients on their journey towards optimal living. In addition, ARN established the Rehabilitation Nursing Fund (RNF), a foundation to support research to improve the quality of healthcare to individuals with disability or chronic illness.

Membership in ARN includes:

  • Rehabilitation Nursing journal featuring in-depth article on current practice issues, research and its implications, editorial features, and news about products and services for individuals with disabilities or chronic illness,
  • Six FREE Online Nursing Contact Hours through the Rehabilitation Nursing journal - annually!
  • Exclusive Online Resources including the Safe Patient Handling Toolkit, ARN "One-Click" Patient Education Resources, and the online Membership Directory.
  • ARN Health Policy & Advocacy Program advocating for all rehabilitation nurses in Washington, DC. The monthly electronic Health Policy Digest brings you updates on health policy, legislative and regulatory developments related to rehabilitation nursing.
  • ARN Network membership newsletter bringing you the latest news and activities of our association.
  • Peer support and networking through our Local Chapters or the Rehabnurse-L listserv that provide valuable support networks;
  • Member Discounts on publications, conferences, courses and other services offered by ARN.

Joining ARN is an investment that will pay for itself with resources, nursing contact hours, professional development, and the rewards of being a member of a community who understand the unique demands of rehabilitation nursing.

What are the different levels of membership?
A voting membership is available to registered nurses concerned with or involved in the practice of rehabilitation nursing. Voting members can vote and hold office. Voting members pay annual dues of $115.

A nonvoting membership is available to licensed practical and vocational nurses and members of healthcare disciplines other than rehabilitation nursing and to other interested individuals. Nonvoting members cannot vote or hold office. Nonvoting members pay annual dues of $115.

Corporate Memberships are special nonvoting memberships open to companies and facilities that support the goals and mission of ARN. Membership is extended to a single organizational designee. Visit the Corporate Membership section to see a full list of benefits. Corporate members pay annual dues of $2000.

How Do I Join ARN?
Two easy ways to join or renew your membership:
1. Print the membership application and mail the application and payment to:

ARN
PO Box 3781
Oakbrook, IL 60522

2. To renew or join ARN online, you will first need to login or create an account.

Current Members: Renew your Membership
New Members: Login or Create an Account

Membership dues are non-refundable.

Do you have to be a registered nurse to become a member of ARN?
Membership in ARN is open to RNs and other interested individuals engaged in or concerned with the active practice of rehabilitation nursing. Voting membership is limited to RNs, but licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) are encouraged to join the association and enjoy all the other benefits of membership.

Do you have to have a bachelor's degree to be a member of ARN?
A bachelor's degree is not, and never has been, a requirement for membership in ARN.

Does ARN offer a certification program?
Through the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board, ARN offers the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN®) credential. Today, there are more than 10,000 CRRNs.

Do I have to be certified to be a member of ARN?
No, not at all. In fact, it's best to join ARN prior to seeking certification to take advantage of the sizeable member discount on the certification examination application fee. ARN also offers educational resources to help nurses prepare for the CRRN® examination and is available to ARN members at a discounted rate.

Is ARN only for nurses working in acute rehabilitation units or rehabilitation facilities?
Rehabilitation nurses base their practice on rehabilitation and restorative principles in practice settings across the continuum of care, including hospitals, comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation units, long-term care facilities, home healthcare agencies, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, community and governmental agencies, insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, schools and universities, and private practice. Any nurse with an interest in rehabilitation is welcome to join ARN. To find out more information on specific roles within rehabilitation nursing, just click on Role Descriptions. Members may download Role Descriptions in the Member's Only section of the Website.

Is ARN only for advanced-level nurses?
ARN addresses the needs of professional rehabilitation nurses in all roles and settings. While there are advanced practice nurses in ARN, there are also large numbers of staff nurses, case managers, and nurses at all levels of experience. 

How do I join a chapter of ARN?
Joining your local chapter is very simple. Just click here to find the chapter nearest you and join online. Or, complete the printed membership application indicating which chapter you are joining and the appropriate dues amount. Please note: you must be a member of the national organization to be eligible for chapter membership.

What kinds of educational programs does ARN offer?
ARN provides a wide range of educational opportunities in a variety of formats to meet your individual needs.

Live Programs

The ARN annual educational conference is the perfect combination of learning and networking. More than 750 nurses from across the country meet to learn about best practices and current trends in rehabilitation nursing. In addition to the 19 credits hours of sessions, paper and poster sessions offer an opportunity for nurses to share their knowledge and earn contact hours.

Webcasts

ARN presents a number of Webcasts each year that delve into a particular area of interest to the rehabilitation nurse. If nurses are unable to attend the live Webcasts, downloadable versions are available through the ARN Bookstore.

Essential Leadership Course

ARN's Essential Leadership Course is a two-day workshop, designed to provide you with the insight and skills necessary to become a leader in the field of rehabilitation, ARN, and to help you to directly improve the future for all rehabilitation nurses.

Online Program

The Professional Rehabilitation Nursing Online Course provides an ideal overview of rehabilitation concepts and an excellent review for the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN®) examination.

Rehabilitation Nursing

Rehabilitation Nursing Journal, included in your membership, offers informative clinical articles on the practice of rehabilitation nursing. Each issue features opportunities to earn nursing contact hours by reading an article and completing a posttest. Members can earn two free contact hour credits per issue.

What can I find in the Members Only section?
The Members Only section features access to:

  • Exclusive ARN online membership directory allows you to locate other ARN members by name, state, ZIP code, clinical practice interest, or job title. You can also make changes to your own listing.
  • Current and past issues of the ARN Network and health policy digest, a great way to catch up on association news and health policy, legislative, and regulatory developments
  • Safe Patient Handling Tool Kit to can be used by any member of a rehabilitation interdisciplinary team to implement a safe patient handling program in a rehabilitation setting.
  • ARN "One-Click" Patient Education Resources provide easy, "one-click" access to one of the most sought after patient education topics--brain injury--ARN has partnered with Shepherd Center in Atlanta to give you access to these valuable materials.
  • Earn FREE Online Nursing Contact Hours. ARN offers members the opportunity to earn free nursing contact hours on a regular basis through the online version of Rehabilitation Nursing journal.
  • Role Description that can be downloaded to educate current and potential employers, patients, and others about the various roles of rehabilitation nurses, and the skills they bring to all settings across the continuum of care.


I am a member of ARN. How can I access the Members Only area?
If you have never logged in to the Members Only section, you will need to create a login ID and password by clicking here. Once you complete the three steps, and have established an ID and password, you will be able to login from the "My ARN" box on the home page to gain access to the Members Only section.

Your ID and password is your unique identification. The login is a security measure to prevent nonmembers from gaining access to this restricted area of the Web site. Each time you visit the ARN website, you will be required to login to access the Members Only section. The login data is verified against the ARN database to ensure that you are a member.

How can I change my login password?
If you have already created a new ID and password, you will need to contact ARN Member Services at (800)229-7530 or by email at info@rehabnurse.org to make any changes.