In the role as a Rehabilitation Nurse, patients needing long-term care would be the primary goal. A nurse of this type would offer both medical care and psychological support to help the patient achieve and maintain the best quality of life possible after experiencing a devastating illness or suffering a horrific injury.
Rehabilitation Nursing Career, Role of a Rehabilitation Nurse
Within the nursing sector are many specialized fields, one being rehabilitation, also referred to as Physical Medicine Rehabilitation (PM&R). This particular are of nursing has a specific goal, which is to restore function and promote quality life to people who have been injured, suffered a serious illness, or become disabled. A Rehabilitation Nurse works closely with the physician, which in this case is called a Physiatrist.
Patients who receive care from a Rehabilitation Nurse have lost some or all function. Therefore, the goal is through medication, therapeutic exercises, physical activities, adaptive equipment, modalities, assistive devices, prosthesis, orthotics, and various other training approaches to give that person back some, if not all lost function. Depending on the patient, sometimes electrodiagnostics is used to diagnosis possible neuromuscular disorders that may be causing problems.
The types of cases that a Rehabilitation Nurse works with are varied but the most common include patients who have gone through amputation of one or more limbs, suffered a spinal cord injury, and had a traumatic brain injury, sports injury, or stroke. Additionally, patients with different problems associated with pain to include low back injury, fibromyalgia, and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy would also benefit from the services of a Rehabilitation Nurse.
Another specialized area in which this type of nurse works is cardiopulmonary in which the patient has been affected by heart or lung disease. A Rehabilitation Nurse might also work closely with a recreational or speech therapist in helping patients who have suffered a stroke or different doctors to include occupational and physical therapists, chiropractors, and psychologists in getting pain for patients under control.
It is important for someone interested in becoming a Rehabilitation Nurse to know that because each patient’s needs are unique, the exact responsibilities performed would change. However, overall this nurse would be an important part of an entire team of medical professionals, all working on the patient’s behalf to reestablish quality of life.
Most often, a Rehabilitation Nurse works in a hospital environment although a career such as this might also be carried out in a long-term care facility, private practice, assisted living, nursing home, or other settings. Along with working as a Rehabilitation Nurse, often this person will also obtain the required license and certification to work as a Home Healthcare Nurse whereby the patient would have the opportunity to go through treatment and recover from the comfort and privacy of home.
Rehabilitation Nurse Educational Requirements
The minimum requirement to work as a Rehabilitation Nurse is to first complete an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. However, for the best career opportunities and the highest salary, it would be worthwhile for that person to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, if not a Master’s degree. Additionally, with two years of experience working as a Rehabilitation Nurse, the person would have the chance to take an examination for certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse, which carries more clout.
Rehabilitation Nurse Salaries
As far as income earning potential as a Rehabilitation Nurse, currently most nurses in this career field make around $75,000 although those with a Master’s degree typically earn more. Of course, the amount of experience a person has as a nurse, especially working rehabilitation, the level of college education, the hiring facility or doctor, and geographic location would also be determining factors regarding salary potential.
Rehabilitation Nurse Opportunities
Nursing as a whole is in much demand with no letup in sight. However, in specialized fields of nursing to include working as a Rehabilitation Nurse, experts expect that there will never be enough nurses for the number of patients. Then, considering that a Rehabilitation Nurse can expand responsibilities through additional education and training, job security is very strong in this nursing arena.
