Rehab Nurse Training


What is a Rehabilitation Nurse or Rehab Nurse?

Rehab nurses (also known as a certified rehabilitation registered nurse (CRRN)) help people who are affected by a physical disability or chronic illness to adapt to adapt to their disabilities, achieve their potential and work towards independent lives. They begin to work with patients and their families soon after the onset of the chronic illness or disabling injury.

They continue to provide support to the patient through education and empowerment and are a critical part of the rehabilitation team. The typical patient will have more contact with the nursing staff that with any other rehab provider.

Rehab nurses base their practice on rehabilitative and restorative principles by:

  • managing complex medical issues
  • establishing plans of care to maintain wellness
  • providing ongoing patient/caregiver education
  • collaborating with other specialists
  • setting goals for independence

What are the Job Responsibilities of a Rehabilitation Nurse?

General responsibilities of a Rehabilitation Nurse:

  • Provides Hands-on nursing care
  • Provides education to clients, families, and communities
  • Coordinates nursing care with other members of the team
  • Help patients learn to live with their disabilities through treatment
  • Help avoid potential problems
  • Manages patients with complex rehabilitation needs
  • Assesses the physical, psychological, sociocultural, and spiritual dimensions of patients and their families, as well as their educational and discharge needs in order to formulate nursing diagnoses.
  • Supports activities that promote the clients’ return of function and prevent complications or chronic illness

What are the Requirements to become a Rehabilitation Nurse?

A certified rehabilitation registered nurse (CRRN) is a Registered Nurse (RN) with a minimum of two (2) years experience in rehab nursing who has been certified by the Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board.

To become an RN:

Most hospitals prefer the prospective nurse obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing, candidates wishing to become an RN can also obtain an associates degree in nursing, or diploma training at an accredited hospital. All three of these options are acceptable for entry-level positions. Keep in mind that the higher education that you receive, the faster you can advance and earn more money.

Once education is complete, the prospective nurse needs to receive their license. Regardless of the state, the NCLEX-RN examination is required to become a registered nurse.

After passing the exam, the RN can be certified in rehabilitation nursing (after a few years of clinical work).

What is the average salary of a Rehabilitation Nurse?

Salary will vary for a rehabilitation nurse based on their qualifications, experience, and the location of work. Generally speaking a rehab nurse will earn more at a hospital than at a nursing care facility. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who work in hospitals average about $58,000 a year, and those who work in home health care earn about $54,000.

Median Hourly Rate by Job – Certification: Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) (United States)Median Hourly Rate by Job

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