A slower paced unit

I've worked in inpatient rehab the past 5+ years and it is no cakewalk, nor is it 'slow paced.' Many of the patients are similar to what one would receive in med/surg or ortho: post-op hip and knee replacements, ORIFs, laminectomies, cervical fusions, thrombectomies, CABGs, etc.

You'll also receive the garden variety CVAs, amputations, and chronically disabled patients. You'll be expected to transfuse two units of blood NOW even through you have a patient load of 8 or 9 because management presumes these patients are 'less acute' than in other areas of the hospital.

Just be sure what you're getting into. Good luck!

Since the information and advice contained within this thread is not state-specific or regional, it has been moved to the Rehabilitation Nursing forum.

Your experiences in acute rehab are similar to mine. I'm surprised I hacked it for a little over five years at an acute rehab facility. The nursing turnover rate at the acute rehab hospital where I had been employed was sky high: many nurses only lasted a few months due to the mammoth workload.

3 months into my 1at RN job at a top-notch acute rehab facility. I had 8 weeks orientation, and I started hearing cracks about "still" being on orientation around week 3. I get 5 or 6 patients a night because I'm new, but 7 or 8 is typical, and 11 or 12 not unheard of. Most are at an acuity similar or a little less than what I saw in med-surg rotations. So yes, the average patient is a little "slower" but there are SO MANY to juggle. And some days 5 are massively incontinent, 3 have global aphasia, one needs blood, another major wound care, and oh BTW you have 2 new admits during your main med pass. Different, yes. Slow, no. I LOVE the work, but some days I envy my fellow grads in ICUs, with their 16+ weeks orientation and 1 to 2 pt load.