other rehab nurses who want to communicate

Hello! I'm new to this site and new to rehab nursing. I've been a med/surg/oncology RN for 10 yrs. I had to leave it because of burnout. I love rehab nursing so far! My stress level has decreased tremendously, my nursing background has been a plus!

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"why is it ,that, I can do everyone elses job, but, nobody can do mine?"

Hello, I am also new to this group. I am also new to Inpatient Rehab nursing. I think this is a great atmosphere to work in, the patients seem to enjoy learning and trying new things to adapt to the changes in their lives. As much as I love the idea of Rehab nursing, the stress level on our unit is still very high, with low staffing and a higher acuity of patients.

Hello rehab nurses. I've worked lots of rehab, currently on a prn basis. I'm curious about your staffing ratios, so can you please post re that? I too think rehab is a more upbeat area to work, but feel that the current health care climate has taken away much of the joy. Neverheless, I've preferred it to any other areas I've worked.

Hello! I have been a rehab nurse for 7 years, the past five as a CRRN. I spent 2 years of the past five doing staff/pt education, currently I am the Eve Shift Charge Nurse part-time (so I can be mommie for awhile!) I too love rehab, where else can you see a pt go from a 1 depend on the FIMs to 5,6,or 7??

Staffing ratios...depend of course on the acuity of the patient population...but as a guide we staff like this...

20 pt (our max) days 2RN,2LPN,4CNA, eve the same, nights 1RN 1 LPN 3 CNA.

18 pt days and eves 2RN, 2 LPN 3 CNA, nights 1/1/2

16 days and eve 2/1/2 nights 1/1/1

14 day/eve 2/1/2 night 1/1/1

10 day/eve 2/2 nights 1/1

Hope this helps!

Hi. For nights we don't see a third nurse until census is thirteen. We usually get an aide for one hour only in the am, and we're expected to get everyone up/dressed that OT isn't working with on dressing and grooming. How does this sound to everyone else?

Hi I am new to this site and also relatively new to Rehab I worked in NY in pediatrics and upon moving to Columbus Ohio I chose rehab. Why? Because it was close to where I lived and I was afraid of getting lost. LOL Am I sorry? Not at all I love it. It is a area of nursing I probably never would have thought of going into back in NY. I love my duties I love the patients and I love the idea of helping them get back on their feet and return home. I find my job very rewarding


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always Ped

Hi fellow Rehab nurses. Well, actually I'm not one yet, still deciding if I'm going to take the position. I've been in telemetry nursing for 4 years and the last year in pediatric med/surg. cardiology - which I really loved. I have just relocated to sunny, warm AZ from cold, snowy Pittsburgh and love it - but I'm not sure what RN job to take - there are so many. Any advice on rehab nursing would be greatly appreciated. The facility that I checked out is really nice and clean - 16 beds. It's only 3 yrs. old. I'm ready for a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the telemetry floor.

Hello Vanessa! I'm a CRRN that has worked on an acute rehab unit as an RN for 5 years. I've also worked Per Diem this year at a sub-acute facility, to see what that is like. If the unit you are considering is acute, there is still the hospital "hustle and bustle". A subacute unit is still hustle and bustle- just a different type. I've found rehab nursing to be very rewarding.

Sometimes, you get to see miracles happen. You are able to make a significant impact in the patient's and family's life. It's teaching people new ways of doing old things, often things they took for granted (like dressing themselves). You're often entering a person's life during the most tragic and challenging event they may ever have to face. Often, they are angry and really don't like you as you teach and encourage them to care for themselves. But prior to D/C, you can tell in thier eyes and smiles how much they appreciate and respect you. Most of the time, they tell you.

Rehabilitation nursing encompasses neuro, ortho, cardiac, pulmonary, psych, med-surg, geriatric, and pediatric nursing. We work with an interdisciplinary team of MDs, PT, OT, SLP, Rec, Psych, Voc Rehab, and sometimes more. Nursing contributes to, and reinforces the techniques of the other disciplines, so you obtain knowledge in many areas.

Obviously, I love it and reading the prior posts, so do others in this field. I feel like there is so much more to tell you about it, but the above kinda sums it up. Let us know what you decide to do!