other rehab nurses who want to communicate

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Hello, I am new to this group. Are there other Rehab nurses who would like to communicate and share rehab experiences. I have been in Physical Rehab for ten years now, and still love rehab nursing as much today as I did when I started.

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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?"

The more you are in rehab, the more you love it. I have ten years in rehab, I left for two years to work in an ambulatory care unit which increased my skills greatly. But, my true love is rehab, and always will be. I love the atmosphere that rehab has. I have worked in two different rehab hospitals, and both have been close in the relationship between the nurses, the relationship between the nurse and the patient. There is so much enjoyment seeing someone leave to go home independently. Enjoy your work, I really enjoy 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!

Originally posted by HappyNurseMom:

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!

I am a nurse practice coordinator for a rehab unit in Brisbane Australia.

This involves management and clinical responsibilities.

It is a great job but very stressful at times.

Our unit has 28 beds for inpatient care.

6 bed acute stroke unit

day therapy unit with an outpatient dept

I was amazed at the staffing levels you mentioned.

I am only able to provide the following numbers of nurses for 28 patients with varying levels of acuity, but usually around 5-6( day 1-3) stroke patients.

AM

me plus

2RN's

2-3EN's or second level nurses

PM

2RN's

2EN's

ND

1RN

1EN

Our hours /patient day are allocated at 4.0 but due to budget constraints actually3.8 hppd.

It is very difficult to provide adequate care at this hppd.

But despite all this doom and gloom, I am very proud of our team and indeed our profession and chosen speciality.

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ann

Hi from New Zealand

I used to belong to the ARN until the falling NZ$ mean't the subscription became unaffordable. Now am a member of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Assn.

However, I manage a small rehab unit here in Masterton, Wairarapa, NZ of 14 inpatient beds, a Day Hospital, and an Outreach Service. Love it. Previously worked in a very much larger unit and would confess to wishing I was still there -- probably because my home and family are still in that city. Anyway if you want some specific answers to specific questions about rehab nursing in NZ ask away. Major problem -- like most elsewheres -- staffing. Nurses here seem to look upon rehab as a stepping stone to get employment then move on to the more glamourous areas of ITU CCU A & E etc. I would like to develop an education programme that really develops the tremendous opportunities that exist in Rehab for personal and professional development one day. Presently completing a Diploma in Rehabilitation with one University and am undertaking a Diploma in Managed Care at another so this academic year is rather full!!

Andrea

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